Measles shock in the USA: record numbers and first deaths in years!

Measles shock in the USA: record numbers and first deaths in years!

In the United States, the number of measles infections has reached a worrying high. As of July 8, 2025, nearly 1,300 cases in 38 states have been documented by health authorities. This represents a dramatic increase compared to previous years, when the disease was considered defeated since 2000. Texas is the most affected state with more than half of the total registered infections. According to the CDC and Johns Hopkins University, over 90% of those infected are not vaccinated, making the situation even more alarming.

The outbreak is causing great concern as more than 50% of those affected are children and adolescents. It is tragic that two children in Texas and a man in New Mexico have already died this year as a result of measles. In particular, another unvaccinated child from Lubbock died of respiratory failure, believed to be the first measles death in the United States in a decade. This news is causing concern not only in the affected regions but also at the national level, including among political leaders.

Criticism of Health Secretary Kennedy

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, is facing sharp criticism over the resurgent measles outbreak. Kennedy, who had expressed doubts about vaccinations in the past and promoted alternative remedies such as vitamin A, later emphasized the effectiveness of vaccinations in controlling measles. In response to the high number of infections, he personally traveled to the affected regions to meet with the affected families and offer support.

Kennedy recommended that authorities increase vaccinations as the most effective way to combat the outbreak. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, considered safe for over 60 years and achieving 97% effectiveness when administered twice, is a potential answer to the crisis. Politicians like Senator Bill Cassidy called on the population to get vaccinated to prevent further deaths.

Falling vaccination rates and threatening forecasts

The situation is exacerbated by falling vaccination rates, a trend that has been increasingly observed since the coronavirus pandemic. A study by the Stanford Medicine Institute has shown that a continued decline in vaccination rates threatens herd immunity and thus increases the risk of serious outbreaks in previously controlled areas. Projections suggest that if vaccination rates remain low, millions of measles cases and thousands of hospitalizations could occur over the next 20 years.

In Texas in particular, 646 measles infections have already been recorded this year, the most in the USA. The Health Minister wistfully said that the complications of measles, including pneumonia and encephalitis, can have serious effects on the health of those affected. The disease, spread through airborne transmission, is one of the most contagious infections and can lead to high infection rates in the unvaccinated following almost any contact.

Overall, the United States faces a significant challenge in dealing with this renewed wave of measles infections. Public health and vaccination dissemination policies are critical to preventing a recurrent epidemic.

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