Here's why the measles outbreak just took a dangerous new turn
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Scientists are warning that the ongoing measles outbreak might force the United States to lose its elimination status for the first time in decades.
The big picture: For 25 years, the U.S. has been free of yearly measles outbreaks. But this year's spike in cases and sustained outbreaks could change that.
- Measles reached a new yearly case high in summer 2025, surging in part because of declining immunization rates and outbreaks across the country.
- The spike in cases comes as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplayed the threat from measles and repeated misleading claims about measles vaccines before the government response.
Driving the news: The U.S. is on track to lose its "elimination status" by the end of January 2026 due to sustained outbreaks.
- There have been more than 1,800 cases of measles nationwide in 2025, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The CDC says 87% of those cases came from more than 45 different outbreaks.
Outbreaks in Utah and Arizona remain the biggest in the country, per the CDC.
- Texas is also seeing a sustained outbreak, with 803 cases this year.
- There have been three deaths tied to measles this year, CDC says.
Here's what the elimination status means and what to know about measles.
What is measles?
Zoom in: Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through coughing and breathing.
- Due to how easily it spreads, measles was once a common childhood illness. According to the CDC, approximately 9 out of 10 people near someone with measles will contract it if they're not protected against it.
- Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk for it.
The disease infects the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body, according to the WHO.
- It's commonly spotted by a blotchy rash, which can be shades of red, purple or brown, per the Mayo Clinic.
- The rash appears on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the chest and potentially the feet.
What is an "elimination status" for measles?
The World Health Organization considers a country to have eliminated measles if it hasn't had sustained transmission of the virus within a 12-month period.
- The U.S. has seen new measles cases every week of 2025 since January, per the CDC.
- If measles transmission and new cases continue to appear into January of next year, then the country will lose its status as a country that eliminated the measles virus.
By the numbers: Measles cases worldwide are down 88% since 2000, per the WHO.
- By the end of 2024, 81 countries (42%) had eliminated measles, just three countries more than before the pandemic, the WHO says.
- That number is now at 96 countries after Pacific island countries and areas, as well as Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles (the first within the WHO's African region to reach the status) eliminated the disease in 2025.
- Canada lost its "elimination status" for measles in November, ending a 27-year streak.
What's next: The WHO says that "strong political commitment and sustained investment" is needed to make sure children receive the proper vaccinations against measles and to make countries free of the disease.
Where are U.S. measles outbreaks right now?
The American Southwest has seen a high number of cases this year.
- Texas has more than 800 cases.
- Utah, Arizona and New Mexico have had more than 100 cases.
- The Utah-Arizona surge is the second-largest outbreak of the year. Many of the cases have been tied to smaller communities with low vaccination rates.
- South Carolina reported eight new cases in mid-November, with some coming from the same household.
Outbreaks often require public health responses and hospital resources, placing financial burdens on state and federal budgets.
- An unpublished study that has not been peer-reviewed estimates that the average outbreak cost per case was over $43,000.
Rise of measles ahead of the holidays
What they're saying: "We are reminding people that travel for the upcoming holidays increases the risk of exposures greatly for those traveling and for those accepting visitors," said public health officials in South Carolina in a news release.
- "We encourage people to get vaccinated now to prevent measles from disrupting your holiday plans."
- "If those currently in quarantine join family gatherings during the Thanksgiving holiday, we may see many more cases during the Christmas holidays," per the South Carolina Department of Health.
Measles symptoms to watch for
Measles symptoms can appear within seven to 14 days after contracting the virus. The common symptoms include:
- High fever.
- Cough.
- Runny nose.
- Watery eyes.
- Red eyes.
- Rash.
- It can also cause more common issues like ear infections and diarrhea.
Threat level: Measles can cause serious health issues, according to Harvard Medical School experts, including:
- Pneumonia.
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
- Vision loss.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (a rare and fatal disease of the brain that can develop years after infection).
- Miscarriage.
How to stay safe from measles
Experts recommend the two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to stay safe against the illness.
- The CDC recommends children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine — a first dose at 12 to 15 months old and a second dose at 4 to 6 years old.
- Anyone else who's not protected against measles also needs one or two doses of the MMR vaccine, per the CDC.
- Two MMR vaccines are available in the U.S. — the M-M-R II and PRIORIX.
Flashback: The CDC used to recommend a combined shot of the MMR vaccine and the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine until Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s advisers recently voted to limit access to the shot.
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