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4d ago

Measles Could Become Endemic in the U.S. Within 20 Years, Study Warns

New research highlights the risks of declining vaccination rates, with over 800 cases reported this year and public health misinformation compounding the threat.

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A sign reading "measles testing" is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas, U.S., February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Sebastian Rocandio/File Photo
One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.
A view shows MMR vaccine at the City of Lubbock Health Department in Lubbock, Texas, U.S. February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Annie Rice/File Photo

Overview

  • A Stanford-led study published in JAMA projects that measles could regain endemic status in the U.S. within two decades if vaccination rates remain unchanged.
  • The U.S. has reported over 800 measles cases across 27 states in 2025, including two child deaths in Texas, marking the largest outbreak since 2019.
  • Researchers estimate that maintaining current vaccination levels could lead to 851,300 measles cases, 170,200 hospitalizations, and 2,550 deaths over the next 25 years.
  • Public health experts link vaccine hesitancy to misinformation, with a KFF poll showing a rise in exposure to false claims about vaccine safety and efficacy.
  • Increasing vaccination rates by just 5% could prevent measles from becoming endemic, underscoring the importance of addressing vaccine misinformation and increasing public awareness.