Measles has made a worrying comeback in the United States, with confirmed cases now exceeding 1,000 and three deaths reported, according to state and local health data released on Friday. This sharp increase marks the most significant outbreak in decades of a disease that was officially declared eliminated in the U.S. back in 2000.
So far this year, there have been at least 1,012 cases, with Texas accounting for over 70 percent. A vaccine-hesitant Mennonite Christian community straddling Texas and New Mexico has been severely affected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is lagging behind in reporting, partly due to ongoing staff and funding reductions under President Donald Trump’s administration.
North Dakota is the latest state to confirm an outbreak, with nine cases so far. Around 180 students have been quarantined as a precaution. Dr. Paul Offit, a paediatrician and vaccine specialist, warned that the actual number of infections may be much higher, as some people avoid seeking treatment. “These three deaths equal the total number of measles deaths in the U.S. over the past 25 years,” he told AFP. All three victims—two young girls in Texas and an adult in New Mexico—were unvaccinated.
This year’s outbreak has already surpassed the 2019 total of 1,274 infections, although no deaths occurred during that outbreak, which was largely centred on Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey.
The resurgence has been linked to declining vaccination rates, worsened by persistent misinformation—particularly around the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been widely criticised for spreading unfounded claims about the vaccine’s safety, alleging it contains harmful substances.
According to the US’ CDC, MMR vaccination rates among kindergartners dropped from 95.2% in 2019–2020 to 92.7% in the 2023–2024 school year, falling below the threshold needed for herd immunity.
Measles, a respiratory virus spread through coughing, sneezing or even breathing, is one of the most contagious diseases known. Its characteristic rash is often accompanied by fever and respiratory symptoms, and it poses a severe threat to the unvaccinated—especially infants and people with compromised immune systems.
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, millions of Americans caught measles each year, and hundreds died. Although declared eliminated in the U.S. at the turn of the millennium, small outbreaks have continued due to vaccine hesitancy.
Dr. Susan McLellan, an infectious disease expert at the University of Texas Medical Branch, criticised the focus on alternative remedies like Vitamin A in place of vaccinations. “Prioritising treatments over promoting vaccination is an inefficient strategy for tackling a disease we can prevent,” she said. She also pointed to a wider breakdown in public trust in medical authorities and the challenge of persuading people to believe in preventative health measures when the effects aren’t immediately visible. “Understanding the risk based on population statistics requires a leap of faith—and that’s public health,” she added.
