United States (US) is witnessing a concerning surge in measles cases, with more than 1,000 reported so far since the beginning of 2025. This is only the second time since the disease was declared eliminated in America 25 years ago that the number of cases has risen this high. A widespread outbreak spanning multiple states continues to escalate, placing the country on course for what could become the worst year for measles since 2000.As of Wednesday, at least 1,002 measles cases have been confirmed this year, based on figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. The majority of these cases (over 800) are linked to a significant outbreak concentrated in West Texas that has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and potentially Kansas. Additional cases from some of these states are expected to be reported on Friday.Health experts caution that the actual number of measles cases is likely undercounted, as many cases go unreported. The current outbreak underscores a troubling rise in cases, similar to the spike in 2019 when New York City and surrounding areas reported a major surge, contributing to a total of 1,274 confirmed cases that year. By comparison, the first five months of 2025 have already seen 1,002 cases – only 272 fewer than the entire year of 2019.While the CDC continues to update national data on measles cases every Friday, it has ceased providing specific state-by-state case counts. As of Friday, the CDC reported 935 cases nationwide, with approximately 13% resulting in hospitalization. Only about 4% of the affected individuals had received at least one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The outbreak has also led to three measles-related deaths this year – equaling the total number of such deaths over the previous two decades.According to the CDC, a measles outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. So far in 2025, at least 12 such outbreaks have been identified. Besides the large cluster in West Texas, other states experiencing outbreaks include Ohio, with over 30 reported cases, as well as Montana and Michigan.The rising numbers have prompted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to call for the CDC to reassess treatments for measles and other infectious diseases. As the outbreak continues to grow, public health officials urge Americans to stay vigilant and ensure they are up to date with MMR vaccinations