United States measles cases have already hit a record high of six years this year, Johns Hopkins University’s outbreak response center data demonstrated, as a decline in vaccination levels results in a new peak in the disease previously eradicated from the nation.
1,277 Cases Reported in 2025, Surpassing 2019 Record
The U.S. reported 1,277 cases of measles, the data revealed on Friday, breaking the previous record of 1,274 cases in 2019.
Measles was formally eliminated from the nation in 2000, which signifies that there were no local cases spreading within the nation that year. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continued to detect individual cases associated with international travel, and there has been an occurrence of outbreaks every year since elimination.
Falling Vaccination Rates Blamed for 2025 Outbreak
This year’s epidemic, one of the worst in the U.S., has mostly been fueled by a decline in vaccination rates, especially among children in states like Texas and New Mexico, where rates have declined well below the 95% herd immunity threshold.
Johns Hopkins statistics revealed 790 confirmed cases in Texas – the hub of the ongoing measles outbreak and 95 confirmed cases in New Mexico. CDC data is not yet complete as it is revised each Wednesday. Up to July 1, 38 jurisdictions had reported a total of 1,267 confirmed measles cases and three deaths, as reported by the CDC.
Slight Slowdown in Spread, According to CDC
Last week’s CDC statistics indicated that there has been a deceleration in spread of the infection, with it having spread to neighboring states.
There were 27 reported outbreaks in 2025, and 88% of outbreak-associated confirmed cases, as per CDC’s statistics.
Public health experts have called for public health officials to make urgent recommendations for highly effective vaccines. The measles vaccine is 97% effective after two doses, as per CDC statistics.