health
US measles cases pass 2,000 this year as outbreak nears worst in decades
Outbreak driven by falling vaccination and misinformation as federal public health cuts hamper state response
TL;DR
- Over 2,000 confirmed measles cases recorded in the US this year, nearing the total for all of 2025.
- The outbreak is spreading in unvaccinated and under-vaccinated communities, including infants too young to be vaccinated.
- Declining vaccination rates over the past 15-20 years have left young adults susceptible.
- Public health departments are struggling with reduced federal funding, impacting their capacity for contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine.
- Misinformation and disinformation, including from prominent figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are contributing to the crisis and making it harder to combat.
- Some states, like South Carolina, implemented successful vaccination drives in response to outbreaks, while others, like Utah, faced challenges due to decentralized public health systems and political interference.
- Infants under one year of age are particularly vulnerable as they cannot be vaccinated before six months.
- Physicians are increasingly engaging on social media to counter health misinformation and promote vaccination.