U.S. Measles Cases Reach Highest Level Since 1992

October 17, 2025

Public health leaders continue to monitor the spread of measles cases across the U.S., with nearly 1,600 cases reported this year.

The case count is the highest in the U.S. since 1992 and comes amid ongoing discussions about the role of vaccines in public health. About 12 percent of the cases reported this year required hospitalization, including 22 percent of the cases involving children under 5.

Here’s what you need to know:

• By the numbers:  There have been 1,596 cases reported this year compared to just 285 reported during 2024.
• In Pennsylvania:  The commonwealth has reported 16 measles cases this year compared to six last year.
• Key point:  Vaccination offers strong protection against the highly contagious virus.
  • About 92 percent of the cases were among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown status. Another 4 percent had one Measles, Mumps, Rubella dose or two doses, respectively.
• Vaccination rates:  Since the pandemic, the U.S. has seen lower rates for school-age vaccination against measles, with vaccination coverage for kindergartners declining from 95.2 percent during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.7 percent during the 2023–2024 school year.
  • Pennsylvania saw similar trends, with vaccination rates declining from 96.6 percent to 93.5 percent in that time.
  • About 95 percent vaccination coverage is considered the threshold for “community immunity.”
• Bottom line:  “At local levels, vaccine coverage rates may vary considerably, and pockets of unvaccinated people can exist in states with high vaccination coverage. When measles gets into communities of unvaccinated people in the United States, outbreaks can occur,” the CDC noted.

HAP continues to monitor the latest public health updates and provide updates to members. Additional information from the CDC is available online.