By Zachary Stieber
Contributing Writer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that more cases of measles will likely occur in the next few months.
“With continued measles transmission in areas across North America and expected increases in international and domestic travel and large events during spring and summer, additional measles cases are anticipated in the coming months,” the CDC said in an April 27 message to partners.
Starting with a spike in cases in Texas in early 2025, outbreaks have been reported in multiple parts of the United States in recent months.
The 2,288 confirmed measles cases in 2025 represented the highest annual total since 1991. Through April 23, there have been nearly 1,800 confirmed measles cases in the country.
While a large outbreak in South Carolina just ended, eruptions are ongoing in California and Utah, among other areas.
Dr. Brannon Traxler, chief medical officer for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, told reporters during a briefing on April 27 that “our state still has pockets where the rates of unprotected people, whether it be unprotected from natural immunity or vaccination, are higher, and so there is an ongoing risk there.”
Washington state officials said on April 30 that they have been unable to identify the source of transmission for three of the 40 patients who contracted measles this year, which “may mean measles is spreading undetected in our communities.”
In the CDC alert, the public health agency said that state and local officials should immediately report measles cases to the CDC, track down where the patients were, work to identify people exposed to the cases, and increase communication to “enhance outreach and communications to under-vaccinated communities through trusted messengers.”
The CDC has encouraged vaccination against measles, noting that a majority of the cases in 2025 and 2026 are listed as being unvaccinated or having unknown vaccination status.
Side effects of the vaccine include fever and rash.
“CDC is ready to support health departments upon request,” the agency stated. “CDC remains fully engaged in protecting the nation’s health and will continue providing updates and coordinated support to help ensure communities have the tools they need to prevent and contain measles.”
Health departments may choose to convey to doctors and parents the importance of vaccination, particularly prior to traveling to places where measles is known to transmit, according to the CDC. Departments may also wish to highlight symptoms, which can include fever, cough, and brain swelling.
The update came as Utah officials said the outbreak there has climbed to 625 cases, including 31 in the past three weeks.
