Here’s a concise update on the latest measles news.
- United States outbreaks continue to be driven by gaps in vaccination; several sources report rising case counts in 2025–2026, with totals climbing into the thousands in some periods. These trends underscore the ongoing importance of MMR vaccination to prevent spread.[3][4][5][8]
- Public health agencies (CDC and partners) have repeatedly emphasized two-dose MMR as highly effective (about 97% protection) and highlight that most cases occur in unvaccinated or vaccination-unknown individuals.[1][5]
- International and regional updates show measles activity expanding beyond the U.S. in 2025–2026, including outbreaks in parts of the Americas and cross-border spread, prompting vaccination campaigns and surveillance efforts by PAHO and WHO.[8][9][10]
Illustration: A simple visualization could show U.S. measles cases by year, with a sharp rise from the late 1990s to recent years and a recent uptick in 2025–2026, correlating with vaccination coverage gaps.
If you’d like, I can assemble a brief chart or table summarizing U.S. measles case counts by year and vaccination coverage estimates, or focus on your local area (Edison, NJ) to see if there are any nearby alerts or vaccination clinic announcements. Please tell me which format you prefer (brief summary, chart, or local-focused briefing).
Sources
This report describes measles cases reported to CDC by 25 U.S. jurisdictions as of April 17, 2025.
www.cdc.govThere have been 1,596 confirmed cases of measles across the U.S. this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, cases have been reported by 42 states and jurisdictions, and 12% of cases have been hospitalized. There have been 44 reported outbreaks, with 86% of confirmed cases being outbreak-associated. The vaccination status of 92% of all confirmed cases is classified as “unvaccinated or unknown.”
www.aha.orgOn 11 March 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) received a report from the International Health Regulation (2005) (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) of the United States of America (United States) on the ongoing measles outbreak in the country, notified under IHR because it is an unusual event with potential significant public health impact, with the number of cases and deaths in 2025 exceeding the numbers in previous years. Additionally, cases linked to the outbreak in the State of Texas,...
www.who.intThere were at least 111 cases of measles reported in the last week of March, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy claimed that drugs like budesonide and clarithromycin "have been shown very effective" for measles, but doctors say they don't fight the infection itself.
www.cbsnews.comThe U.S. has hit an unwelcome milestone in measles cases this year. The CDC is reporting 1,288 cases across the country. The disease was declared eliminated 25 years ago.
www.npr.orgPAHO calls for action to close immunization gapsWashington, D.C., 15 August 2025 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas to strengthen immunization activities, enhance disease surveillance and rapid response interventions, as measles cases continue to rise in the region. As of 8 August 2025, a total of 10,139 confirmed measles cases and 18 related deaths have been reported across ten countries, representing a 34-fold increase compared to the...
www.paho.orgAt least 245 new measles cases have been reported in the U.S., bringing the total to 416, according to newly updated data from the CDC
abcnews.go.comHealth experts fear a future where measles outbreaks keep taking over towns with low vaccination rates.
www.bbc.comThe United States has reported more than 2,000 measles cases this year, federal data shows, a higher annual total than the country has seen in decades.
www.cnn.com