Washington, D.C. — A significant measles outbreak in the United States has exceeded 1,000 confirmed cases this year, marking the highest tally in three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency’s latest data reflects a steep rise, with 1,001 confirmed cases across 31 states, a stark increase from the 285 cases reported for all of 2024.
This alarming surge includes 14 distinct outbreaks, which are defined as three or more linked cases, revealing that a staggering 93% of this year’s cases stem from these clusters. Tragically, three individuals have succumbed to the disease, including two unvaccinated school-aged children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico.
Measles, a highly contagious viral infection, can spread rapidly through respiratory droplets when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically include a high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Public health experts underscore the contagious nature of the virus, warning that nearly 90% of those unvaccinated who come into contact with an infected person could contract the disease.
Vaccination is key to controlling measles spread. The CDC indicates that when 95% or more of a community is vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), a form of herd immunity is achieved, protecting even those who are unvaccinated. Alarmingly, of the confirmed cases this year, 96% involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
Recent statistics reported a decline in vaccination rates among kindergarteners, dropping from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.7% in 2023-2024, which experts warn can jeopardize community immunity. Approximately one-third of the cases this year have affected children under the age of 5, emphasizing the need for increased vaccination efforts.
In response to the outbreak, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed serious concern, claiming that measles will remain a persistent threat as vaccine effectiveness diminishes over time. He emphasized that immunization remains pivotal in mitigating outbreaks.
However, not all public health officials share this view. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, contends that the successful elimination of measles in the U.S. is possible, asserting that waning immunity does not preclude effective control of the disease.
In response to the current concerns, HHS officials have stated that Secretary Kennedy is addressing the outbreak with urgency, consistently promoting vaccines as the most reliable means to prevent measles. The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely as experts work to encourage vaccinations and mitigate further spread of this preventable disease.
