US sees worst measles outbreak in 35 years amid vaccination decline

The United States is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak in three and a half decades, with official figures revealing a sharp rise in infections. In the first seven months of this year, 2,318 cases were confirmed, surpassing the total for 2025, which had already set a record with 2,289 cases.

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We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionately harms children.

Health officials attribute the alarming increase partly to a growing reluctance towards vaccination. "We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionately harms children," stated Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Measles, a highly contagious disease, can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation, potentially causing long-term disabilities or death.

Although measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread immunization, it has resurged in recent years. This comeback coincides with falling vaccination rates and increasing skepticism toward health authorities. Notably, U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism for his anti-vaccine statements, despite scientific evidence supporting vaccine efficacy.

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I definitely think there is an underdiagnosis.

Experts like Melissa Nolan, a professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, believe the current numbers are likely an undercount and predict further increases. "I definitely think there is an underdiagnosis," she explained. While the measles vaccine is generally mandatory, many Americans can opt out for religious or philosophical reasons. A 2025 survey indicated that one in six parents either avoid or delay vaccinating their children due to fears about side effects, a trend more prevalent among white and conservative communities.

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More ahead I think we are going to start seeing more and more cases of whooping cough and just a variety of other vaccine-preventable diseases, unfortunately.