US measles cases exceed 2,000 as vaccination gaps widen

Federal data show that the United States has recorded 2,030 confirmed measles cases this year, pushing the total past the 2,000 mark for the second consecutive year. The surge follows outbreaks in several states, including South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida. Most cases are among unvaccinated children – 424 under five years old and 1,029 aged five to 19. Utah reports the largest state outbreak with 675 cases, the biggest in four decades, while Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County has seen 21 cases. Health officials note that vaccination coverage needs to stay above roughly 95 percent to maintain community immunity; however, about 11 percent of kindergarteners in Utah were exempt or lacked documentation in the 2024‑25 school year. The CDC emphasizes that measles can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in immunocompromised children.