The United States is experiencing its highest number of measles cases in over 30 years, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Tuesday, there have been 1,288 confirmed cases across 38 states, with Texas reporting more than 700 cases alone. This marks a significant increase from last year when only 285 cases were recorded. The current figures surpass those of 2019, which saw 1,274 cases, making this the most severe outbreak since 1992 when 2,126 cases were reported.

The CDC has identified 27 outbreaks in 2025, with 88% of the confirmed cases being linked to these outbreaks. In comparison, 2024 saw only 16 outbreaks with 69% of cases associated with them. Alarmingly, three deaths have been attributed to measles this year, and a staggering 92% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination statuses. Hospitalization has been necessary for 13% of the cases, particularly affecting children under five who are more susceptible to severe complications.

The CDC emphasizes the importance of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is both safe and effective. Community immunity is achieved when over 95% of the population is vaccinated. However, vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners have declined from 95.2% in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.7% in the 2023–2024 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners vulnerable.

States reporting measles cases include Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

Despite measles being declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000—meaning no continuous transmission within the country—new cases arise when individuals contract the virus abroad and return home. Symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, coughs, and rashes. The CDC warns that measles can lead to serious health issues like pneumonia and encephalitis and is highly contagious through airborne transmission.