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2d ago

U.S. Measles Cases Hit Highest Level Since 2000 Elimination

Undervaccinated pockets in West Texas driving sustained spread risk undoing the nation’s measles-free status

The CDC recommends that children get their first dose of the MMR vaccine when they turn 1, but local governments in places with outbreaks or elevated risk of transmission often recommend early vaccination for infants as young as 6 months.
Anna Hicks prepares a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the Andrews County Health Department, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)
Hundreds of measles cases have been reported in Gaines County, Texas, where vaccination rates were far below recommended levels.
A measles advisory is shown tacked to a bulletin board outside Gaines County Courthouse on April 09, 2025 in Seminole, Texas. A second confirmed measles-related death has been reported in the city of Lubbock amidst an ongoing outbreak which began in late January. As of early April, the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed more than 500 cases within 22 counties, ranging from the South Plains toward the Panhandle.

Overview

  • Johns Hopkins data show 1,277 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. as of July 5, surpassing the 2019 total with months still to go
  • Texas accounts for over 60% of infections, with roughly 790 cases recorded, while at least 27 outbreaks span 38 states
  • The outbreak has led to 155 hospitalizations and three fatalities, all among unvaccinated individuals
  • MMR vaccination coverage has fallen below the 95% threshold for the fourth consecutive year, undermining herd immunity
  • Health authorities warn that sustained transmission could end the U.S. measles elimination milestone and are urging early-dose and emergency vaccination drives