The United States has recorded over 1,500 measles cases in 2025, marking the highest number since the disease was eliminated locally. This increase raises serious concerns for children, unvaccinated individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
Although weekly infections have declined since March’s peak, the surge remains a public health warning.
CDC Confirms 1,544 Measles Cases This Year
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows 1,544 confirmed measles cases in the US as of September 30, 2025. This surpasses the modern record of 1,274 cases in 2019 and is the highest since 1992, when 2,126 cases were reported.
Nearly 92% of infections involved unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. So far, 191 patients required hospitalization, and three deaths were reported—the first measles fatalities in a decade. Texas and New Mexico experienced the largest outbreaks, with New Mexico recently declaring an end to its outbreak.
By comparison, the US reported just 285 cases in 2024 and 59 in 2023.
Measles Cases Spread Across the Country
The US exceeded 1,000 cases in May, signaling a turning point. While weekly reports are declining, new cases continue to emerge nationwide.
Orange County, California: 1 case
Cook County, Illinois: 1 case
Minnesota: 10 new cases
Vaccination Prevents Measles, But Rates Are Falling
Measles is preventable through vaccination. The US eliminated the disease 25 years ago due to sustained immunization efforts. However, anti-vaccine sentiment has contributed to declining coverage.
The CDC emphasizes:
“The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is very safe and effective. When over 95% of a community is vaccinated, most people are protected through herd immunity.”
Unfortunately, vaccination rates among US kindergartners have dropped from 95.2% in 2019–2020 to 92.7% in 2023–2024, leaving roughly 280,000 children vulnerable.
Risk of Measles Becoming Endemic
Research suggests that if childhood vaccination rates remain low, the US could see up to 851,300 measles cases over the next 25 years. This could result in 170,200 hospitalizations and 2,550 deaths.
A 50% decline in vaccination could trigger as many as 51.2 million cases, potentially making measles endemic within five years.
Dr. Mathew Kiang, lead author of the study, stated:
“We’re already on the precipice of disaster. These diseases are preventable, so any case is tragic. Thousands or millions of cases would be unfathomable.”
