LOS ANGELES, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States has reported 1,024 measles cases so far in 2025, marking a sharp increase from previous years, according to the latest data released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A total of 14 measles outbreaks have been recorded nationwide this year. The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more related cases.
Confirmed infections have been reported across 31 U.S. jurisdictions, with 128 hospitalizations and three deaths recorded, the CDC said.
Approximately 96 percent of the cases occurred in individuals who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
This year's total represents a significant surge compared to 2024, when just 285 cases were reported throughout the entire year. It is also the highest annual total since 2019, when 1,274 cases were documented.
The CDC stressed that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine provide strong protection against the disease.
