Measles Outbreak in the USA: A Public Health Crisis
Soaring measles cases in the U.S. push past the 1,000-mark for the first time in half a decade.
In an unprecedented surge, the United States has witness an escalation of measles cases surpassing the 1,000 mark for the first time since 2019, as stated by federal data reported on May 9.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exposed 1,001 measles cases in 31 jurisdictions, up to and including Thursday. However, the data does not include the latest figures from Texas, the hotspot for the ongoing measles outbreak, where cases have spiked by seven to a total of 709 [1][2].
Healthcare experts and researchers have cautioned that the United States is flirting with the potential return of endemic measles, almost a quarter of a century following its eradication in the nation. In 2019, the country recorded 1,274 cases, with this year's tally close on its heels [2].
Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Medicine, voiced her concern, stating, "I think we are still at risk of seeing these numbers at least stay steady, if not continue to increase over time."
The CDC has revealed that about 13% of those infected with the disease this year have been hospitalized, with a tragic death toll of three confirmed - two young girls from Texas and an adult in New Mexico. All three victims were unvaccinated [2].
Officially, the outbreak in Texas originated from a Mennonite community and has extended to states such as New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. As of now, North Dakota has reported an outbreak with nine cases, and approximately 180 school students in North Dakota have been placed in quarantine at home due to the outbreak [2].
Paul Offit, a renowned paediatrician and vaccine expert from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, expressed his concern, stating, "This is a virus that's the most contagious infectious disease of mankind, and it's now spreading like wildfire." He noted that the true count of victims could be substantially higher since some people shy away from seeking medical attention [1].
Unfortunately, the fight against the escalating measles cases across the nation is being curbed by factors such as insufficient advocacy for vaccination from government health officials, unfounded claims about alternative treatments, and vaccine hesitancy among parents [2].
The measles vaccine maintains an efficacy of 97% after two doses, according to the CDC [2].
Enrichment Insights:
- The Current Outbreak: The current measles outbreak in the United States in 2025 derives primarily from imported measles cases and suboptimal vaccination rates, exacerbated by factors like vaccine hesitancy. This outbreak has hit Texas the hardest, with over 80% of all US cases in 2025 originating from this state. Measles cases have also surfaced in other states, and the outbreak has even influenced neighboring Mexico [1][2].
- Global Context: Low vaccination coverage remains a persistent issue in 2023, with only 16.7% of countries in the Americas achieving over 95% coverage for the second MMR dose (MMR2) [3]. Vaccine hesitancy, the COVID-19 pandemic's impact, limited healthcare access, and the challenges faced by migrant and Indigenous communities contribute to this low vaccine coverage. The imported measles cases and prolonged transmission chains have been significant drivers behind multiple outbreaks across the U.S. and the Americas region [2][3][4].
- Outbreak Trends and Geographic Spread: As of May 2025, there have been ten outbreaks reported across twelve states. Several outbreaks in these states, including Texas, indicate a strong connection to the largest outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, initiated primarily among a community with minimal vaccination rates [2][5]. The outbreak has also affected neighboring Mexico [2][5]. Reports indicate that all genotyped specimens from patients in Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas belong to the same measles genotype - D8 [2][5].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-measles-case-count-topped-1000-in-may-2025-cdc-says-2021-05-20/[2] https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/30/1002217090/us-measles-cases-surpass-1000-recorded-in-all-of-2019-cdc-says[3] https://www.cdc.gov/measles/aboutsv/coverage.html[4] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ks7-OpsFsNk5Hd8TKdrFv1W6H_gqS8zz/view[5] https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html
- In the ongoing measles outbreak in the United States, Texas has reported a significant spike of 709 cases, making it the hardest-hit state with more than 80% of all US cases in 2025 originating from this state.
- Paul Offit, a renowned pediatrician and vaccine expert, expressed concern about the spreading measles outbreak, stating, "This is a virus that's the most contagious infectious disease of mankind, and it's now spreading like wildfire."
- According to research and reports, the current measles outbreak in the United States derives primarily from imported measles cases, suboptimal vaccination rates, and factors like vaccine hesitancy.
- Unvaccinated individuals are at a higher risk of complications related to measles, with the CDC revealing that about 13% of those infected this year have been hospitalized, and tragically, there has been a death toll of three confirmed victims - two young girls from Texas and an adult in New Mexico.
