Measles, which was once thought to be extinct, is back and spreading quickly. Arguably, the worst resurgences in decades have already been documented in 2025, with over 500 confirmed cases recorded nationwide.
Texas alone has been accountable for three of every four cases reported this year, making the outbreak particularly concerning there. The virus is still spreading in clusters, especially in places where vaccination rates are lower, and health officials are raising the alarm.
According to an NBC News story that used state health department data stated that, “This is the third-most active year for measles after the U.S. declared it eradicated in 2000.”
Thanks to large-scale vaccination efforts, measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, a significant public health achievement.
“Eliminated” is defined as a duration of 12 months or more during which the measles virus is not circulating consistently in a given country. Nevertheless, recent outbreaks have highlighted increasing gaps in immunity to measles across the nation.
The present figures can seem low when compared to previous decades, especially when compared to the 450,000 cases in 1964 or the 27,000 instances in 1990. The 2025 measles outbreak, however, is a major red flag. This epidemic shows that a major decline in vaccination rates can lead to the resurgence of even highly preventable diseases.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. It spreads by sneezing, coughing, or simply being near someone with the illness. As many as nine out of ten people living around the infected individual will catch the illness.
Common cold symptoms include runny nose, cough, and fever, but the illness easily develops into a characteristic rash, pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and death, particularly among young children and infants.
In 1963, the measles vaccine flipped the game on its head. Lives were saved, and annual case rates declined case by case. But with increasing vaccine hesitancy amplified by misinformation, certain segments of the population are becoming complacent, allowing the virus to return.
Public health experts indicate that vaccination rates of at least 95% are crucial to establishing herd immunity and stopping new outbreaks.
Steps You Can TakeVerify vaccination history:
- Confirm that you and your children have received the most recent MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines. Stay up to date.
- Look to trustworthy sources for measles data, such as the CDC or state health department.
- Look for symptoms. Watch for febrile illness, cough, and rash, especially if you have traveled to a measles outbreak area.
The 2025 measles outbreak is a clear warning that public health progress can slip if we’re not careful. The virus is still around, but with awareness, timely vaccines, and working together, we can stop it again.
