Measles cases: the data

Measles cases plummeted after vaccines became widely available, but outbreaks have returned as vaccination rates decline.

After measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, cases remained low for nearly two decades. However, cases began rising in the late 2010s, driven by outbreaks in under-vaccinated communities and vaccine hesitancy. More recently, disruptions to routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic and declining vaccine confidence have contributed to a concerning increase in cases.

Weekly Cases in 2023–2025

Measles cases in 2025 are already outpacing previous years—suggesting we're heading for a worse outbreak than in 2023 or 2024.