Annual US Measles Cases Top 1,000, Worst Year Since Elimination

As of Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at least 1,002 cases of measles have been reported across the United States this year, according to CDC data compiled by CNN.

The current outbreak, which is centered in West Texas and has expanded to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and potentially Kansas, could make 2025 the worst year for measles outbreaks since 2000, when measles was declared eliminated in the United States.

Between 2000 and 2025, an average of 180 measles cases were reported each year across the country barring 2019, during which 1,274 cases were reported for the entire year.

So far in 2025, there have been at least 12 outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases. Outbreaks have occurred in Ohio, Montana, and Michigan, but it is unclear how many cases occurred in each state because the CDC has stopped providing state-specific case numbers.

About 13% of measles cases this year have resulted in hospitalization, according to CNN data analysis, with about 4% of cases occurring in individuals who received at least one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

Three measles deaths have been reported in 2025, which is equal to the number of deaths over the past 20 years.

Reference

McPhillips D. CNN Health. Updated May 7, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/07/health/measles-cases-one-thousand-us