Prime Highlights
- The United States recorded 1,618 measles cases and three deaths in 2025, the highest number in over 30 years, according to the CDC.
- Health experts warn that low vaccination rates are driving the outbreak and urge communities to increase immunization coverage.
Key Facts
- The CDC confirmed 43 outbreaks, accounting for 87% of all measles cases, and 198 hospitalizations, including 95 children under five.
- Texas reported nearly 800 cases, making it the worst-affected state, while 92% of hospitalized patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Background
The United States has recorded 1,618 measles cases and three deaths this year, marking the highest number of infections in over three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency said this is the worst outbreak since 1992, raising major concerns among health authorities.
As of October 2025, the CDC reported 43 measles outbreaks. These outbreaks caused 87% of all measles cases. The CDC also said that 198 people were hospitalized, including 95 children under five years old. Alarmingly, 92% of hospitalized patients were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Texas has seen the most cases, nearly 800 infections, making it the worst-hit state. According to health experts, the increasing measles cases are a clear indication of the need to increase the rates of vaccination in communities with low immunization rates.
Measles is a viral infection that is very contagious and transmitted to others when an infected individual sneezes or coughs. The initial symptoms are fever, cough, running nose, and then redness in the eyes with a red rash extending to the whole body. Often, serious forms may cause pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, or fatal consequences.
Medical personnel state that measles has no direct medication, but symptoms can be minimized with the help of supportive care and vitamin A. Two doses of the MMR vaccine have been found to be the most effective and have high levels of immunity.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone who has been exposed to the measles to visit a doctor and stay isolated at least four days after the rash develops in order to stop its transmission.
