Measles Outbreak May Be Slowing Down
Measles outbreak 2025 shows signs of plateauing, according to a new report from the CDC released on Wednesday. Health officials have confirmed over 1,227 cases across 36 states, but infection rates, especially in the hard-hit Southwest, are now beginning to fall.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, informed the newly assembled Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the trend during a meeting held on June 25, 2025.
“There’s some really good indicators that we have hit a plateau,” Daskalakis told the committee. “Cases are definitely decreasing.”
Where the Outbreak Hit Hardest
The outbreak has been most severe in Texas, which reported 750 cases across 35 counties, and New Mexico, which has seen 81 cases to date. This outbreak has directly caused about 89% of all U.S. measles cases.
Despite some ongoing global introductions of measles, most have resulted in short-lived transmission chains rather than widespread outbreaks.
Vaccine Panel Sparks Controversy
This update comes as the newly restructured ACIP met for the first time, following the June 9 firing of all 17 former members by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The new appointees—some with anti-vaccine records—have sparked backlash from the public health community. Critics argue the committee lacks qualifications, and some had called for the meeting to be delayed.
Still, the panel convened to review national immunization data, including the measles and H5N1 bird flu outbreaks.
Vaccine Protection and Public Risk
According to the CDC, 3% of measles cases have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals, reinforcing the high effectiveness of the MMR vaccine.
While overall public risk remains low, health officials continue to monitor unvaccinated populations and high-risk communities closely.
Bird Flu (H5N1) Update: No New Human Cases in 15 Weeks
Dr. Daskalakis also updated the panel on the H5N1 avian flu, which crossed into cow populations in 2024—a first in recorded history. Since then, over 1,000 herds have been affected, and 70 human cases have been recorded.
“We’ve had no new human cases in 15 weeks,” said Daskalakis, citing increased milk testing and early detection as key factors.
Source: USA Today
