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The United States has recorded 1,288 measles cases so far this year, the highest total in 33 years, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data out Wednesday.  

Just over halfway through 2025, the U.S. has now surpassed , when 1,274 measles cases were confirmed, which at the time was the highest in more than a quarter century. 

This is now the worst year for measles in the U.S. since 1992, when 2,126 cases were confirmed. The virus was officially  in the U.S. in 2000, after high rates of vaccination succeeded at halting nearly all domestic spread.

The largest share of are connected to an outbreak in West Texas that led to  of . The number of cases in Texas alone has grown to more than . Measles infections have been confirmed in 38 states.

Measles is primarily a respiratory virus, and in some cases it can cause  in the lungs and brain that can lead to cognitive issues, deafness or death. But , which is normally given as part of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, is  at preventing it, doctors and health experts say.

Before the first measles vaccine became available in the 1960s, between 400 and 500 Americans — mostly children — .

The Texas outbreak was originally centered in a  with a lower vaccination rate, and most of those affected have been , nearly all of whom were  or had an unknown vaccination status. State and local health officials confirmed the first patient who died was an unvaccinated school-aged child, and the second was an unvaccinated 8-year-old girl. Neither of the children had underlying health conditions, the Texas health department said. The death of in New Mexico was also linked to measles.

While most people's symptoms improve, about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles will be hospitalized. About 1 out of every 1,000 children with measles will develop brain swelling that can lead to brain damage, and up to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected will die, the CDC says. 

There is no antiviral drug or treatment that can cure measles, but medical care can help relieve symptoms. Doctors have some treatment options available to address complications like pneumonia or bacterial infections that can develop in measles patients.