Measles cases are rising again

Last January, West Texas experienced an outbreak of measles, which eventually led to over 750 cases, primarily in children. This initial outbreak was linked to smaller outbreaks in other states, like New Mexico and Oklahoma, and other states reported their own outbreaks of measles throughout the year.

According to CDC data, there were 2,255 confirmed measles cases and 49 outbreaks in the United States in 2025 across 45 states and among international visitors. Of these cases, 89% were associated with outbreaks. In comparison, there were only 285 measles cases and 16 outbreaks in 2024.

As of Jan. 22, there are 416 confirmed measles cases in the United States, with 413 being reported across 14 states and 3 being reported among international visitors. Most measles cases, both last year and this year, have been in unvaccinated individuals or those whose vaccination status is unknown.

Currently, South Carolina is experiencing a large outbreak of measles, with CDC data reporting 338 confirmed cases. However, data from South Carolina's health department suggests that the number may be even higher. As of Jan. 20, the South Carolina health department reported 646 cases, with 538 people in quarantine and 33 in isolation.

Utah is reporting the next highest number of cases at 32. In other states, including Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia, cases are still in the single digits. 

Although the number of cases reported in 2025 was the highest in over 20 years, it's not clear if there has been consistent, sustained transmission over the last year.

"There is a measles problem in the United States," said Noel Brewer, head of the national committee that reviews measles data to help determination the country's elimination status. "But it's unclear whether it meets the official definition of the U.S. having lost elimination."

According to health officials, it has been more complicated than expected to show that the Texas outbreak from last January is linked to the current ones in South Carolina or Utah and Arizona.

"Losing elimination status … does not mean that the measles would be widespread, nor would it alter any key measles elimination strategies," Abraham said. "… It's just the cost of doing business with our borders. We have these communities that choose to be unvaccinated. That's their personal freedom."

"You know, the president, the [health] secretary, we talk all the time about religious freedom, health freedom, personal freedom, and I think we have to respect those communities that choose to go somewhat of a different route," Abraham added.

Although Abraham said that he and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been promoting the measles vaccines, vaccine advocates say that Kennedy has not publicly highlighted the importance of vaccines and instead contributed to rising distrust around vaccination.

"What's happening today with measles is absolutely public health malpractice, and it's completely preventable," said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D), who is also a physician. "It is public health malpractice to have thwarted confidence in vaccinations."

"Back in 2000 when we eliminated measles, we didn't have the same politicization around vaccines," said Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of CDC. "It will become very hard, if not impossible, to achieve the levels of vaccination against measles that are required to keep it from spreading around."