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7h ago

Measles Resurgence Pushes U.S. to Brink of Losing Elimination Status

Declining vaccination coverage coupled with a late-December surge in South Carolina signal sustained transmission nearing the one-year threshold.

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Travelers arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • CDC data show 2,012 U.S. measles cases as of Dec. 23, the highest total in more than 30 years.
  • South Carolina reports 179 cases as of Dec. 30, with 287 people under quarantine tied to the Spartanburg-area outbreak.
  • About 93% of 2025 cases involve unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals, with roughly two-thirds in children, including at least three deaths and 227 hospitalizations.
  • Roughly 50 outbreaks have been identified nationwide, led by Texas with 803 cases, followed by Arizona and North Carolina.
  • Health departments issued recent exposure alerts at Newark and Boston airports, while Australian authorities warned of exposures linked to returning travelers.