Measles outbreaks are worsening in several states as the virus spreads nationwide, threatening the disease’s elimination status in the U.S.
Five things to know:
1. As of Dec. 9, the CDC had confirmed 1,912 measles cases in 42 states — the highest annual total in more than 30 years. Rising cases are linked to declining vaccination rates and a sharp increase in outbreaks, with the CDC confirming 47 this year, up from just 16 in 2024.
2. About 11% of measles patients this year have been hospitalized. Children under 5 account for the largest portion at 21%.
3. Measles outbreaks in South Carolina, Arizona and Utah are growing rapidly this month, with hundreds of people quarantining after exposures, CBS News reported Dec. 16. South Carolina alone has confirmed 111 cases in two months. Meanwhile, Utah has reported 115 cases this year, and Arizona has seen 176.
4. The surge in cases has led to more measles patients and exposure risks for U.S. hospitals. On Dec. 16, Michigan health officials warned of a possible measles exposure at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township after a pediatric patient visited the hospital’s emergency department.
“We are working very closely with the Oakland County Health Department to contact anyone who may have been exposed,” Detroit Medical Center told CBS News. “Our hospital is well experienced in caring for patients with infectious diseases and has robust protocols to protect the health and safety of our patients, staff and visitors.”
5. The U.S. achieved measles elimination status in 2000 but is set to lose this designation in January if current transmission continues. Under World Health Organization guidelines, countries lose elimination status after 12 months of sustained transmission. The U.S. began 2025 with a large measles outbreak that spread across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
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