Overview
- The CDC has confirmed 935 measles cases across 29 states as of early May 2025, marking the second-highest annual total since elimination in 2000.
- Texas remains the epicenter with 683 cases, primarily in Gaines County, where vaccination rates are among the lowest in the state.
- Three deaths have been reported: two unvaccinated children in Texas and one unvaccinated adult in New Mexico.
- About 96% of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, highlighting declining immunization rates.
- Experts warn that herd immunity has eroded in the U.S., with kindergarten MMR vaccination rates falling to 92.7%, below the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks.