Following an initial outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, cases of measles have spread to other states, including Florida.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent measles update on March 14, 2025, the total number of confirmed measles cases this year has risen to 301.
Of the 301 confirmed cases, 93% are linked to the three outbreaks that have occurred in the United States this year, marking the highest number of infections reported in a single year since a record wave in 2019.
In comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported to the CDC throughout 2024, with only 69% of 285 confirmed cases being associated with an outbreak.
Measles, one of the most contagious airborne human diseases, usually starts with a fever, cough, runny nose, and pink eye two to four days before the rash appears, but it can lead to life-threatening complications.
According to the CDC, one person infected with the virus can infect a dozen others in any community where less than 95% of the population has been vaccinated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to recommend the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the most effective way to protect oneself from the virus. The WHO recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective in preventing measles for life.
According to CDC data, the majority of cases confirmed in 2025 were among people aged 5 to 19, followed by children under 5 and those over 20.
The majority of people with a confirmed case have not been vaccinated or have chosen not to disclose their vaccination status, with only 3% reporting receiving one dose of the MMR vaccine and 2% receiving two doses.
In 2025, 50 people were hospitalized due to measles infection, accounting for approximately 17% of those with a confirmed case.
Two people have died this year, with one case confirmed in Texas and the other still being investigated in New Mexico. Neither of the deceased individuals had received vaccinations. Prior to this year, the last death from measles was reported in 2019.
This year, fifteen states have reported cases of the virus, including Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.
More than 90% of 2025 cases are reportedly coming from a growing outbreak in Texas and its neighboring state, New Mexico, with at least 284 infections reported by the CDC between the two states.
So far, confirmed cases of measles in Florida have been low, with only one case confirmed in Miami-Dade County, according to the most recent Florida Department of Health data.
The CDC says it is aware of additional cases being reported in multiple states across the country; however, the data released so far only includes those that have been concretely confirmed.
The update on the spread of measles in the United States comes after the CDC issued an official health advisory on March 7, 2025, warning clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.
While measles was declared eradicated in 2000 thanks to widespread vaccination, the CDC expects more cases to be confirmed as the outbreak spreads rapidly due to lower vaccination rates between 2009 and 2024.
According to the CDC, the risk of widespread measles in the United States remains low due to robust immunization and surveillance programs, as well as strong outbreak response initiatives supported by federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial health partners. However, they continue to monitor the number of reported cases across the country.