On Jul. 10, 2025, the AP reported that he U.S. is having its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades, and the year is only half over.

The national case count reached 1,288 on July 9 according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though public health experts say the true figure may be higher.

The CDC’s count is 14 more than 2019, when America almost lost its status of having eliminated the vaccine-preventable illness — something that could happen this year if the virus spreads without stopping for 12 months. But the U.S. is far from 1991, when there were 9,643 confirmed cases.

In a statement, the federal government said the CDC “continues to recommend (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines as the best way to protect against measles.” It also said it is “supporting community efforts” to tamp down ongoing outbreaks as requested, among taking other measures. CDC teams deployed for an on-the-ground outbreak response twice in Texas, and also helped New Mexico and Kansas with their outbreaks.

Fourteen states have active outbreaks; four other states’ outbreaks have ended. The largest outbreak started five months ago in undervaccinated communities in West Texas. Three people have died — two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico — and dozens of people have been hospitalized across the U.S.