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yesterday

Linked Measles Outbreaks Put U.S. Elimination Status at Risk as January Deadline Nears

Twelve consecutive months of uninterrupted transmission would trigger the loss of the designation the U.S. has held for 25 years.

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Human skin covered with measles rash.
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Overview

  • Federal and state officials on a recorded call linked the Texas outbreak to ongoing cases in Utah and Arizona, though the CDC’s acting director later said preliminary analysis does not show a direct link.
  • As of Nov. 13, the CDC has confirmed 1,723 U.S. cases in 2025, with 87% tied to a record 45 outbreaks.
  • The Utah–Arizona cluster has grown to more than 180 cases, with roughly 25% lacking a known source, indicating undetected transmission chains.
  • About 92% of infections are in unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals; the circulating strain 9171 was first detected Jan. 20 in Gaines County, Texas, and has continued across jurisdictions, according to the CDC’s measles response lead.
  • Canada recently lost its measles elimination status, and U.S. health agencies report continued containment and vaccination efforts as holiday travel could accelerate spread.