CDC Reports Over 1,000 Measles Cases in 2025; Texas Most Impacted State
TL/DR –
The US is currently facing its largest measles outbreak in 25 years, with over 1,000 cases reported. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that most Americans are concerned about the Trump administration’s ability to contain the outbreak, despite confidence in the safety of measles vaccines remaining high. The poll also showed that measles vaccination rates among US children have fallen due to misinformation and vaccine skepticism, pointing to this as a significant factor in the current outbreak.
Concerns Over US Government’s Ability to Control Measles Outbreak
According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, many Americans question the Trump administration’s capacity to manage the ongoing measles outbreak. Despite this, a strong majority still believes that measles vaccines are safe.
Only 31% of respondents agreed that the administration is handling the measles outbreak responsibly. The United States is currently experiencing its largest single outbreak of measles in 25 years, with cases exceeding 1,000 last week.
Even with the fall in measles vaccination rates in recent years, 86% of Americans regard the MMR vaccine as safe for children, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. This is slightly up from 84% recorded in May 2020.
Mixed Messages and Vaccine Hesitancy
Mixed messages from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of the vaccine might heighten vaccine hesitancy. Kennedy, who took office in February, maintains that he supports vaccines as the most effective measles prevention method.
Meanwhile, state-wide pockets of unvaccinated people are showing vaccination rates as low as 82%. For instance, in Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of a measles outbreak that has sickened over 700 people and caused two fatalities, only 82% of kindergarteners are fully vaccinated.
National Vaccination Rates Mask Local Vulnerabilities
Dr. Amesh Adalja from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security warns that national vaccination figures may overshadow pockets of very low vaccination coverage, making these areas particularly susceptible to outbreaks.
Overall, the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that only 55% of respondents are concerned about measles outbreaks. Just 32% believe that the current administration will effectively halt the current outbreak and prevent measles from resurging as a common disease.
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