May 9, 2025 - Health

Worsening measles outbreak crosses 1,000 cases in U.S.

April Rubin

A wooden sign points to a measles testing site — Signs point the way to measles testing in the parking lot of the Seminole Hospital District across from Wigwam Stadium on Feb. 27 in Seminole, Texas. Photo: Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images

The U.S. has recorded 1,000 measles cases across 30 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Why it matters: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of downplaying the benefits of vaccination and pushing alternate treatments, but in April he conceded vaccines were the "most effective way" to prevent measles.

State of play: The confirmed cases were reported in 30 states, and 93% of confirmed cases are related to 14 outbreaks this year.

2019 was the last time the U.S. reached this milestone, with 1,274 cases.
2024 saw 285 total measles cases.

Zoom in: Nearly all of the confirmed cases have been people who were unvaccinated or their vaccine status was unknown.

30% of cases were in children under 5 years old, and 38% were in children between 5 and 19.
13% of cases have been hospitalized, and there have been three confirmed deaths.

Zoom out: Kennedy this month directed the CDC to come up with measles treatments using "existing drugs in combinations with vitamins and other modalities."

He previously touted vitamin A and other drugs as treatments, but experts have said there is no evidence that any treatments can speed up recovery.

Go deeper: RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments

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Worsening measles outbreak crosses 1,000 cases in U.S.

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