Measles, one of the most contagious viruses in the world, is making a troubling comeback in the United States.
According to updated data from state health departments, more than 600 cases have already been reported in 2025 — making it the third-highest year for infections since measles was officially declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
NBC News is tracking these numbers and will continue to update case counts every Tuesday and Friday.
Texas has been hit the hardest, accounting for about 75% of all reported infections this year.
Although the U.S. eliminated measles 25 years ago — meaning there was no continuous spread for at least 12 months — occasional outbreaks have still occurred. However, current numbers are raising new concerns among public health officials.
To put the surge in perspective: while this year’s cases are high, they still don’t come close to earlier outbreaks, such as the 27,000 cases reported in 1990 or the staggering 450,000 reported in 1964.
Measles cases dropped sharply after the vaccine was introduced in 1963, which helped prevent thousands of deaths each year. But with vaccine hesitancy growing in some communities, experts worry that more people are now vulnerable to infection — and the virus may gain ground once again.
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