The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in three decades, with more than 1,000 cases reported in 2025, including over 800 in a single multistate surge that began in Texas in January. At least three deaths have been confirmed, and health officials believe many more cases are going undetected.
What’s most concerning to public health experts is that this may be just the beginning. Declining vaccination rates, fueled by misinformation and hesitancy, combined with reduced funding for public health services, are making it harder to contain outbreaks. Some experts now warn that measles, once eliminated in the U.S., could become endemic again—meaning it would circulate year-round, as it does in countries with low immunization coverage.
The current outbreak highlights the critical importance of maintaining high measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage, especially among children. Public health officials stress that the MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and the best line of defense against a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications and death.
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