US Measles Cases Reach Record High, Overtaking 2019 Total

Strategic Insights -

The US has experienced a substantial increase in measles cases, surpassing the previous record from 2019. As of 2025, there have been at least 1,277 confirmed cases of measles in the US, with three reported deaths. The majority of cases are concentrated in Texas, where a large outbreak has driven vaccination rates below the recommended level. Experts warn that the current case count is likely an underestimation due to underreporting, with many cases going unreported.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US has reported at least 1,277 confirmed cases of measles in 2025, surpassing the previous record of 1,274 cases in 2019.
  • The majority of measles cases (95%) have been in unvaccinated individuals, with only 8% of cases occurring in people who had received one or two doses of the MMR vaccine.
  • There have been at least 27 total outbreaks, with cases rising quickly in Colorado and other states.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance for travelers, advising that two doses of the MMR vaccine are required for international travel.
  • The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set a goal of at least 95% of children in kindergarten having received two doses of the MMR vaccine, but the country has fallen short of this threshold for four consecutive years.
  • Nearly 1 in 4 kindergartners in Gaines County, Texas, did not have their required MMR vaccine in the 2024-25 school year, contributing to the large outbreak.

Statistics:

  • 1,277 confirmed measles cases in the US as of 2025
  • 95% of measles cases in unvaccinated individuals
  • 8% of cases occurred in people who had received one or two doses of the MMR vaccine
  • 27 total measles outbreaks in the US
  • 155 people with measles have been hospitalized
  • 28% of cases have been in children younger than 5
  • 1 in 4 kindergartners in Gaines County, Texas, did not have the required MMR vaccine in the 2024-25 school year

Sources:

  • Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • US Department of Health and Human Services
  • Truveta, a health-care data and analytics company
  • The American Medical Association
  • CNN