FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – The United States is facing a sharp rise in measles cases, with 483 confirmed infections reported in early 2025, surpassing the total of 285 cases recorded in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak has turned deadly, with two fatalities, including a school-aged child in Texas, and 70 hospitalizations reported as of March 28, 2025. Texas has been hit hardest, recording 400 cases since late January, with 41 patients hospitalized.
Health officials attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates. CDC data shows that kindergarten MMR vaccine coverage has dropped to 92.7% for the 2023–2024 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019–2020, leaving about 280,000 children vulnerable.
“Unvaccinated individuals are driving the outbreak,” said epidemiologist Michael Mina. Nationwide, 95% of 2025 cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, the New Jersey Department of Health reported.
Health authorities warn that prolonged outbreaks could jeopardize the country’s measles elimination status, which was achieved in 2000.