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U.S. and Europe Grapple with Measles Resurgence as Cases Surge

Declining vaccination rates and disrupted immunization programs have fueled outbreaks, with nearly 300 U.S. cases in 2025 and Europe reporting its highest numbers in decades.

LUBBOCK, TEXAS – MARCH 01: Boxes and vials of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Virus Vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Cases of Measles are on the rise in West Texas as over 150 confirmed case have been seen with one confirmed death.(Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
A sign for a hospital in Montreal, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
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Overview

  • Texas and New Mexico have reported nearly 300 measles cases in 2025, with two fatalities, including one child in Texas and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico.
  • Houston confirmed its third measles case this year, involving an unvaccinated infant exposed during international travel; the case is unrelated to the West Texas outbreak.
  • Europe recorded 127,350 measles cases in 2024, doubling the previous year’s total and marking the highest levels since 1997, with 38 deaths reported.
  • Public health officials attribute the resurgence to declining vaccination rates, exacerbated by misinformation and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Measles poses severe health risks, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term immune system damage; vaccination remains the most effective prevention method.