The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years, with 1,288 confirmed cases so far in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the highest number of cases since 1992, when the country reported 2,126 infections.
The CDC says that 38 states have reported measles cases this year. Texas alone accounts for 753 cases — over half of the national total. Of all the confirmed cases, 13% required hospitalization.
So far, 27 measles outbreaks have occurred in 2025. A large number — 88% of all cases — are linked to these outbreaks. The CDC noted that 92% of the people who got measles were either not vaccinated or their vaccination status was not known.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even breathes near others. It mainly affects the lungs and spreads throughout the body, causing symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, and a red rash.
The disease was declared “eliminated” from the US in 2000, meaning it was no longer spreading naturally within the country. However, new cases can still appear when someone catches measles in another country and brings it back to the US.
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, measles used to cause thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths in the US every year. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 2.6 million people died from measles every year before widespread vaccination.
Despite vaccines being safe and affordable, the disease still causes deaths worldwide. In 2023 alone, about 107,500 people — mostly children under five — died from measles.
Health experts stress that vaccination is the best way to prevent measles and stop it from spreading. They urge people to ensure they and their children are fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
