United States: Since public health officials declared the United States measles-free in 2000, the country has witnessed its biggest outbreak of the disease this year.
Federal scientists confirm that at least 800 measles cases have been reported throughout the country this year, but experts believe the actual numbers are potentially higher, based on reports from The New York Times.
Texas Emerges as the Epicenter
The largest number of measles cases currently exists in Texas combined with Oklahoma and New Mexico, while Texas reports specifically 624 cases from late January, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
According to Dr. Dan Filardo, who leads the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) measles task force, “This is the largest outbreak in the U.S. since measles elimination was declared in 2000,” US News reported.
According to Filardo, the CDC is dispatching seven extra personnel to Texas to support outbreak management.
NEWS: CDC finds that from Jan 1–April 17, 800 measles cases were reported in the US, the 2nd highest annual case count in 25 years; 82% were tied with an ongoing outbreak in close-knit communities with low vax rates in NM, OK, and TK. 85 (11%) patients were hospitalized; 3 have… pic.twitter.com/pL4oTEEgkZ
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) April 24, 2025
The United States lost two young unvaccinated females from Texas to the measles-related illness, marking the first US measles deaths in the last decade.
Children at the Greatest Risk
The majority of measles cases across the United States occur among children who have an average age of 8 years old. Measles has hospitalized 85 patients, and 11% of all patients suffered hospitalization.
Most of the individuals who became sick from this outbreak went without getting vaccinated. The vaccination records of surrounding persons remain unknown.
The epidemic has impacted Mennonite populations particularly badly because members of this community typically avoid vaccinations, according to The Times report.
The measles outbreak affected Mennonite communities in Ontario to such a degree, with almost 1,000 cases, and also caused a substantial impact on Chihuahua, Mexico, where more than 400 people contracted the disease.
“With ongoing weddings, large religious gatherings, and celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of Mennonite origins, we remain concerned about the possibility of additional spread of measles across North American Plains communities as the year goes on,” Filardo stated.
The current outbreak shows potential to pass the 1,249 case total from 2019 as health authorities conduct an 11-month response by employing hundreds of public employees at a cost exceeding $8 million.
The existing response faces difficulties because of reduced funding combined with staff reduction steps.
Dr. David Sugerman of the CDC mentioned the agency faces significant difficulty in acquiring the necessary resources to support states facing outbreaks.