U.S. Measles Outbreak Hits 320 Cases, Exceeds 2024 Total

Declining vaccination rates and misinformation fuel the largest U.S. measles outbreak in years, with Texas and New Mexico hardest hit.

The U.S. has reported 320 measles cases across 16 states in 2025, surpassing the 285 cases recorded in all of 2024.
Texas accounts for 259 cases, with Gaines County as the epicenter, while New Mexico reports 35 cases, mostly in Lea County near the Texas border.
Two deaths have occurred: an unvaccinated child in Texas and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico, marking the first U.S. measles fatalities in a decade.
The outbreak has been linked to low vaccination rates, with only 93% of U.S. kindergartners vaccinated in 2024, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.
Measles, one of the most contagious diseases, poses severe risks, including immune system damage, pneumonia, and brain swelling, but the MMR vaccine is 97% effective at prevention.