Measles cases in U.S. hit highest level in over 30 years

LOS ANGELES, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The number of measles cases in the United States has hit the highest level in more than 30 years, according to the data released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A total of 1,288 measles cases have been confirmed in the country, with 13 percent of cases hospitalized, so far in 2025, making it the worst year since 1992, when 2,126 cases were confirmed.

The cases were reported across 38 states nationwide, with 753 in Texas alone, according to the CDC.

There have been 27 outbreaks reported in 2025, and 88 percent of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated, said the CDC, adding that 92 percent of these cases are either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.

The airborne, extremely infectious and potentially severe rash illness was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning there are no measles spreading within the country and new cases are only found when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to the country, the CDC explains on its website.

Before the measles vaccine was introduced, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized and 400 to 500 people died in the United States each year.