The United States is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak since 1992, with 1,277 confirmed cases reported across nearly 40 states in 2025, according to new data released Monday by Johns Hopkins University. Texas has emerged as the epicentre, accounting for over 60% of all infections.
The resurgence of measles—a disease once declared eradicated in the U.S. due to successful vaccination campaigns—comes amid declining immunisation rates and a growing wave of public distrust in health authorities.
So far, three deaths have been linked to the outbreak, including two young children. All were reportedly unvaccinated. Public health experts warn that the true toll may be higher due to underreporting in some areas.
“This is a wake-up call,” one health official said. “We are seeing the consequences of vaccine hesitancy play out in real-time.”
Last major measles outbreak occurred in 2019
The last major U.S. measles outbreak occurred in 2019, concentrated in Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey, where 1,274 cases were reported but no fatalities. Before that, the last measles-related infant death in the U.S. occurred in 2003, three years after the disease had been officially declared eliminated nationwide.
Much of the criticism surrounding the 2025 outbreak has been directed at U.S. Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known sceptic of vaccines. Kennedy has long questioned the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, falsely suggesting it contains harmful substances, including so-called “fetal debris.”
Public health advocates accuse Kennedy of fanning the flames of anti-vaccine sentiment and contributing to the current crisis. His controversial statements, they argue, have undermined trust in science-based medical guidance and emboldened vaccine-resistant communities.
The outbreak reportedly began in late January in a rural part of Texas, severely affecting a Mennonite Christian community known for resisting vaccinations. From there, the disease spread quickly through under-immunised populations, exacerbated by close communal living and limited access to public health infrastructure.
The ripple effects have extended beyond U.S. borders. Canada has recorded over 3,500 measles cases this year—including one fatality—mostly in Ontario. In Mexico, nearly 2,600 cases and nine deaths have been confirmed, according to the Pan-American Health Organisation.
WHO sounds alarm
The World Health Organisation has already sounded the alarm, noting that Europe’s measles cases doubled in 2024, reaching a 25-year high. Experts fear the trend could undermine decades of global progress in combating vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Measles is not a harmless childhood illness—it can kill,” one infectious disease specialist emphasised. “It’s entirely preventable with a vaccine that has been proven safe and effective for decades.”
As the outbreak escalates, pressure is mounting on U.S. federal health agencies to launch more aggressive immunisation campaigns, combat misinformation, and rebuild public trust. Many warn that without urgent intervention, measles could become a recurring public health threat.
