The US faces a resurgence of measles, with record cases in over three decades, highlighting urgent gaps in vaccination coverage and rising misinformation in undervaccinated communities.
Measles, a disease long considered eliminated in the US, is back with a vengeance. Public health leaders in Seattle and King County say the country has recorded more cases this year than at any point in the past 35 years, a sign that the virus is finding room to spread in undervaccinated communities. The warning comes as officials try to steady immunisation rates and prevent sustained circulation in Washington state.
The concern is not abstract. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says measles remains one of the most contagious infections known, spreading through the air when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, and lingering in a room for up to two hours. Before vaccines, the illness caused severe complications in many cases, including pneumonia, brain swelling and death. The CDC also says that in 2025, 12% of reported US cases led to hospitalisation and there were three confirmed deaths, underlining how dangerous the disease can still be.
Vaccination remains the main defence. The two-dose measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine is about 97% effective, according to public health guidance, and protection usually lasts for life. The CDC says childhood coverage has slipped, with kindergarten vaccination rates falling from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year to 92.5% in 2024-25. That drop matters because high community coverage helps protect infants, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems who cannot always be vaccinated themselves.
Eric J. Chow and Sandra J. Valenciano, writing in The Seattle Times, said people should check whether they have documented immunity, get vaccinated if records are missing and make sure families are protected before travelling abroad, including to Canada and Mexico. They also argued that public health agencies and healthcare providers must keep messages clear and science-based while addressing access gaps and misinformation. In Washington, they noted, state leaders have continued to back established childhood vaccination schedules despite growing political pressure around vaccine policy.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
