The United States has recorded its highest number of measles cases in over two decades, marking a concerning public health milestone. As of July 5, 1,277 confirmed measles cases have been reported in 2025, surpassing the 2019 total of 1,274 and making it the worst year for measles since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.
Health experts attribute the surge to declining childhood vaccination rates and a widespread outbreak that began in under-vaccinated pockets of West Texas. Texas has emerged as the outbreak’s epicentre, reporting over 750 cases across 36 counties, including two child deaths. Neighbouring states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, have also reported cases related to the West Texas cluster.
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In total, 39 US states have recorded measles cases in 2025. The outbreak has led to at least three deaths and 155 hospitalisations, with children under 5 accounting for 28% of all cases.
TThe United States achieved measles elimination status in 2000, a feat driven by widespread vaccination. However, if the Texas outbreak persists into 2026, the country risks losing its elimination status, a reversal of decades of progress.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that measles could lead to further outbreaks unless vaccination rates are restored. Unvaccinated individuals account for over 90% of confirmed cases this year.
TThe MMR vaccine is 93% effective after one dose and 97% effective after two doses. However, national immunisation rates have stayed below the critical 95% threshold for four consecutive years. Alarmingly, the 2023–24 school year saw a record number of kindergartners claiming vaccine exemptions—leaving over 125,000 children unprotected against at least one required vaccine.
In response to the low immunisation rates, affected states have launched early vaccination campaigns that allow infants as young as 6 months to receive their first MMR dose. Texas has seen an eightfold rise in MMR vaccinations among 6-month-olds compared to 2019, and New Mexico has nearly doubled its vaccine administration compared to last year.
As measles continues to spread across North America, with outbreaks also reported in Mexico and Canada, health officials are urging travellers to be fully vaccinated and calling on communities to counter vaccine misinformation to prevent further tragedies.
TThe outbreak unfolds amid political turmoil. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine sceptic, has recently dissolved the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, sparking backlash from the American Medical Association and public health leaders.
