The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 17 more measles cases today in its weekly update, bringing its total for the year to 1,214 confirmed cases from 36 jurisdictions.
Although measles cases have slowed since peaking in late March, the uptick in cases brings the country closer to surpassing the 1,274 cases reported in 2019, which to date is the highest number reported in a single year since the disease was eliminated from the United States in 2020. There were 285 confirmed measles cases in 2024.
The CDC reported two additional outbreaks (three or more related cases), bringing the 2025 total to 23 outbreaks. Of the 1,214 confirmed US cases, 89% are outbreak associated. Only 16 outbreaks were reported in 2024, with 69% of confirmed cases associated with those outbreaks. The biggest outbreak in 2025 has been in West Texas, which has seen 750 confirmed cases since late January.
Twelve percent of case-patients (146) have been hospitalized, including 21% (72 of 350) of children age 5 and under. Three case-patients have died. Ninety-five percent of cases have been in individuals who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective. Maintaining measles elimination status requires vaccination coverage of 95% or higher.
But data reported by the CDC last year show that during the 2023-2024 school year, MMR vaccine coverage among US kindergartners fell to 92.7%. And in a recent study published in JAMA, researchers found that MMR vaccination rates have dropped in 78% of US counties since the beginning of the pandemic.
New cases in Georgia, Iowa
Among the latest cases to be reported is an unvaccinated person in Georgia who is a family member of a confirmed measles case-patient whose infection occurred in May. It's the second case associated with the index case. The Georgia Department of Health (DPH) said the person was quarantined at home following exposure and that no additional exposures outside the home have occurred.
The case is Georgia's sixth confirmed measles case this year.
"The best protection against measles, mumps, and rubella is the MMR vaccine," DPH said in a news release. "The vaccine is safe and effective."
In Iowa, three new measles cases were reported, bringing that state's total for the year to six. The cases occurred in two unvaccinated children, and an unvaccinated adult in Johnson County, according to an update today from Johnson County Public Health. The three case-patients are household contacts of another infected child who was unvaccinated and became infected during international travel.
"These individuals are currently stable at home and additional public exposures are not expected," county health officials said in a press release.
