Measles Surges to 33-Year High in US as Vaccination Rates Falter, CDC Warns
Sarah Johnson
July 10, 2025
Brief
US measles cases hit a 33-year high with 1,288 infections in 2025, driven by declining vaccination rates and 27 outbreaks across 38 states, CDC reports.
The United States is grappling with a measles outbreak that’s hit a 33-year high, with 1,288 cases reported across 38 states as of July 8, 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This surge, the most significant since 1992’s 2,126 cases, underscores a troubling resurgence of a disease declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Texas is the epicenter, accounting for over 700 cases, while 27 outbreaks nationwide have driven 88% of infections.
Tragically, three deaths have been linked to this year’s cases, with 92% of patients either unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, with 13% of cases requiring hospitalization. The CDC points to a decline in vaccination rates—down to 92.7% among kindergartners in 2023–2024 from 95.2% in 2019–2020—as a key factor. This drop leaves roughly 280,000 young children at risk, weakening the herd immunity that requires 95% coverage to protect communities.
Measles, a highly contagious virus spread through coughing or sneezing, can linger in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms like high fever, cough, and rashes appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, with severe complications like pneumonia or encephalitis threatening young children. The MMR vaccine, hailed as safe and effective, remains the cornerstone of prevention, yet vaccine hesitancy continues to fuel outbreaks, many sparked by travelers bringing the virus from abroad.
From Alaska to Wyoming, no region is untouched. This isn’t just a health crisis—it’s a wake-up call. When vaccination rates dip, diseases we thought were history come roaring back, putting our most vulnerable at risk.
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Editor's Comments
Measles is back, and it’s not here to play nice—it’s like a viral time traveler from the 90s crashing our 2025 party. Why? Because some folks think ‘herd immunity’ is a cattle ranching term. Texas alone has 700 cases, and with 92% of patients unvaccinated, it’s like we’re daring the virus to a duel and forgetting our ammo. Here’s a jab for you: if measles could talk, it’d say, ‘Thanks for the unvaccinated welcome mat!’ Let’s get those MMR shots in arms before this outbreak starts its own reality show.
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