Measles cases in the United States have already surpassed last year’s total within the first few months of 2025, with 320 cases reported across 16 states. The majority of cases are in Texas and New Mexico, with most occurring in unvaccinated individuals. A child in Texas and an adult in New Mexico, both unvaccinated, have died from measles this year. This increase in cases poses a threat to the U.S.’s status of having eliminated measles in 2000.
Globally, there has been an uptick in measles cases, with European and Central Asian countries reporting more than 127,000 cases last year, the highest since 1997. This increase has been attributed to a drop in immunization coverage during the pandemic. The measles virus is highly contagious, requiring a 95% vaccination rate in communities to prevent outbreaks. Declining vaccination rates have contributed to the spread of measles in the U.S. In many cases, outbreaks are introduced from other countries, but declining vaccination rates locally have also fueled the virus’ spread.
The outbreak in Texas originated in Gaines County, where vaccine hesitancy is prevalent among the Mennonite population. Health officials in both Texas and New Mexico are urging unvaccinated residents to get vaccinated. Measles is particularly dangerous for children under 5 years old, with 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children with measles dying from complications. The CDC recommends two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which is 97% effective in preventing measles.
