Us Measles Cases Hit Highest Level In More Than 30 Years, Cdc Data Shows

The existent number of measles cases successful nan U.S. is astatine its highest level successful much than 30 years, according to caller information released Wednesday by nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The CDC said 1,288 confirmed cases person been recorded arsenic of Tuesday passim 38 states. Texas leads nan federation pinch much than 700 cases. 

Last year, nan CDC reported only 285 bales cases. In 2019, location were 1,274 recorded, but this year’s full truthful acold is nan astir since 1992, erstwhile location were 2,126 cases. 

"There person been 27 outbreaks reported successful 2025, and 88% of confirmed cases (1,130 of 1,288) are outbreak-associated," according to nan CDC. "For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated." 

MIDWESTERN STATE REPORTS FIRST MEASLES CASE SINCE 2011 

A paramedic administers a dose of nan bales vaccine astatine a wellness halfway successful Lubbock, Texas, connected Feb. 27, 2025. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

Measles cases this twelvemonth person led to 3 deaths crossed nan U.S. -- and 92% of those who person contracted nan microorganism are unvaccinated aliases person an chartless vaccination status. 

Of this year’s cases, 13% person required hospitalization. Those nether nan property of 5 are nan astir apt to require further aesculapian care, nan CDC said. 

"The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is secure and effective. When much than 95% of group successful a organization are vaccinated (coverage >95%), astir group are protected done organization immunity (herd immunity)," it added. "However, vaccination sum among U.S. kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during nan 2019–2020 schoolhouse twelvemonth to 92.7% successful nan 2023–2024 schoolhouse year, leaving astir 280,000 kindergartners astatine consequence during nan 2023–2024 schoolhouse year." 

The states pinch cases are 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. 

MEASLES CASES CONTINUE TO CLIMB AHEAD OF SUMMER TRAVEL 

River Jacobs, who is 1-year-old, is being held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio astatine a vaccine session put connected by Lubbock Public Health Department connected March 1, 2025, successful Lubbock, Texas. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

The CDC besides said "Measles was officially eliminated from nan United States successful 2000, meaning location is nary bales spreading wrong nan state and caller cases are only recovered erstwhile personification contracts bales overseas and returns to nan country." 

Health officials said bales symptoms statesman to look 7 to 14 days aft contracting nan microorganism and see a precocious fever, coughing and rashes. 

"Measles tin origin superior wellness complications, particularly successful children younger than 5 years of age," nan CDC said. "Common complications are receptor infections and diarrhea. Serious complications see pneumonia and encephalitis." 

A bales alert motion hangs extracurricular nan entranceway to nan Cohen Children's Medical Center successful New Hyde Park, New York, connected March 14, 2025.  (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)

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"Measles is very contagious," nan CDC warns. "It spreads done nan aerial erstwhile an infected personification coughs aliases sneezes. You tin get bales conscionable by being successful a room wherever a personification pinch bales has been. This tin hap moreover up to 2 hours aft that personification has left."