Measles Makes a Comeback: What's Going On?

The U. S. is facing a serious measles problem. In 2025, there were over 2, 000 cases. That's the highest number in many years. The last time it was this bad was in 1992. Back then, kids didn't get two doses of the MMR vaccine like they do now. Measles is super contagious. But vaccines help control it. One dose is 93% effective. Two doses are even better at 97%. Yet, fewer kids are getting vaccinated. In the 2024–25 school year, only 92. 5% of kindergarteners had the MMR vaccine. Experts say 95% is needed to stop outbreaks.Big outbreaks happened in different places. One started in West Texas and spread to New Mexico. It caused hundreds of cases and three deaths. All the people who died were not vaccinated. Another outbreak is in South Carolina. It began in October and has nearly 180 cases. Many people are in quarantine. The virus spreads in homes, schools, and churches. There's also an outbreak along the Utah-Arizona border. It has over 350 cases combined. Health officials are worried. They think measles will keep spreading. Canada also lost its measles-free status. A big outbreak caused this. U. S. officials are watching closely. They fear the U. S. might lose its measles elimination status too.