Monitoring Measles Outbreaks Across America

Frightening Spike in Measles Cases Across America

The U.S. is grappling with a concerning surge in measles cases, leaving health experts on edge, particularly as vaccination rates among kids falter. This year, we've witnessed deaths for the first time since 2015, and a significant increase in cases compared to 2024. CNN is continually updating this page with fresh data as it's collected and released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from state health departments.

A massive outbreak in West Texas has driven the rise in national measles cases this year.

Measles is an extremely contagious airborne disease. It can lead to severe health complications or even death, especially for young and unvaccinated children. Most recorded cases involve people under the age of 20.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash of red spots. Approximately 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who contract measles is hospitalized. Consequently, around 1 in every 20 children will develop pneumonia, and some may develop a brain swelling called encephalitis. Up to 3 out of every 1,000 children infected with measles may succumb to respiratory and neurological complications.

Data compiled by the CDC displays the states that have reported measles cases so far.

Measles can be prevented thanks to an effective vaccine. Experts suggest that children receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in two doses: the first between 12 months and 15 months of age, followed by a second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is roughly 93% effective at preventing measles infection, but two doses are approximately 97% effective.

"The current outbreak is absolutely being fueled and ignited by unvaccinated individuals," stated Dr. Michael Mina, the chief scientific officer of telehealth company eMed and an expert on infectious disease spread and immunology.

The increased worry about measles cases can be attributed to tumbling vaccination rates and increased travel, which allows unvaccinated people to acquire measles abroad and bring it back to the U.S., as stated by the CDC, mirroring the situation in 2019.

This year's outbreak comparatively outpaces the past.

Measles was eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Incoming cases are expected, but when vaccination rates are high, the risk remains low, and outbreaks are scarce. Outbreaks in 2019, particularly two in under-immunized Orthodox Jewish communities in New York, jeopardized measles elimination status in the U.S.

If a measles outbreak persists for a year or more, the U.S. could forfeit its measles elimination status.

As measles is so contagious, maintaining a high level of vaccination coverage is crucial for minimizing its spread. The U.S. has set a target vaccination rate of 95%, but coverage among kindergartners has fallen below this threshold in recent years.

Coverage varies widely by state. According to the CDC, MMR vaccine series completion among kindergarteners fell from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.7% during the 2023-2024 school year, leaving around 280,000 children at risk.

The current decreasing trend in vaccination rates coupled with measles outbreaks underscores the necessity of maintaining high MMR vaccination coverage to curb outbreaks and sustain measles elimination in the U.S.

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