U.S. measles outbreak reaches 800 confirmed cases across multiple states

In April 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the U.S. has seen a concerning rise in measles infections, totaling 800 confirmed cases across 24 states. This current outbreak has marked the highest infection rates since 2019 and has already claimed two lives, with another death under investigation. The latest report indicated approximately 88 new cases over the previous week, highlighting a drastic increase from the 285 cases documented throughout 2024, suggesting a significant uptick in the spread of the virus which poses a threat to public health and efforts made towards measles elimination. Texas is particularly affected, accounting for the largest number of cases, with 597 confirmed infections, where the outbreak began in January 2025. Health officials confirmed that a majority of the cases are found in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, making up 96% of this year's infections. Other states experiencing notable outbreaks are New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas, Indiana, and Michigan, raising alarms among health officials as the virus spreads to more states. The outbreak's extension across the country has raised concerns about the country's measles elimination status achieved in 2000, when the virus was no longer circulating among the general population domestically. With the current trends of transmission, experts warn that if cases increase further, the total could surpass the 2019 figures of 1,274 cases, which could lead to the highest recorded levels since 1992. Authorities are particularly focusing on international travel as a contributing factor to the surge in infections, emphasizing the necessity for vaccination before traveling abroad. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a characteristic rash that appears several days later. Due to its highly contagious nature, officials estimate that one infected person could spread the virus to 9 out of 10 individuals around them. As a result, health experts strongly advocate for vaccination against measles, with the MMR vaccine being proven highly effective. The increasing number of cases are thought to reflect a significant gap in vaccination coverage across the United States, prompting additional educational outreach efforts about the importance of immunization.