ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so far in 2025, according to new data released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figure marks the highest annual count since 1992, when 2,126 cases were reported.

Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, a designation that signifies no continuous transmission for at least 12 months. That status is now at risk.

"The U.S. is at risk of losing its measles elimination status should cases continue at this rate," warned William Moss, a pediatrician at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The CDC attributes the surge to declining vaccination rates, especially among children in states like Texas and New Mexico, where coverage has dipped below the 95 percent threshold needed for herd immunity.

The country had already crossed 1,000 cases in May. Although the pace of spread has slowed slightly, infections have now reached nearby states. "It is true that the slope of the curve has flattened somewhat ... but it's hard to predict what patterns will play out," Moss added.

So far this year, the CDC has recorded 27 outbreaks—defined as three or more related cases.

Health experts have renewed calls for urgent public messaging around vaccination. The measles vaccine, introduced in 1963, remains 97 percent effective after two doses, according to the CDC.

However, confidence in the vaccine has been shaken by persistent misinformation and disinformation, particularly regarding its safety.

Data published late last week by Johns Hopkins University's outbreak response center also showed that the current outbreak has surpassed the previous post-elimination high of 1,274 cases in 2019.