Measles cases in the US have hit a 33-year high, with nearly 1,300 infections reported in 2025, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Once declared eliminated in the US in 2000, the disease is resurging amid declining vaccination rates.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 92% of cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown status. The outbreak has spread across 38 states and Washington, D.C., causing at least three deaths and over 150 hospitalizations.
Highly contagious and potentially severe, measles thrives in communities with low vaccine uptake—an issue fueled by rising anti-vaccine sentiment. For this reason, it is not a virus of the past anymore: measles is back.
Click through to learn how measles spreads, what to look for, and how to stay protected.