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Measles Outbreaks Surge in Texas Amid Declining Vaccination Rates

KVIA••CNN Newsource
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The United States is experiencing a significant rise in measles cases, with 2025 marking a record high and three fatalities reported, the first since 2015. A major outbreak in West Texas contributed to at least one-third of the national cases. Although this outbreak was declared over in August, new cases continue to emerge, particularly in South Carolina, which is facing its largest outbreak in decades. The CDC emphasizes the importance of vaccination, recommending two doses of the MMR vaccine for children to prevent severe health complications. With vaccination rates among kindergarteners dropping to 92.5%, approximately 286,000 children are currently at risk.

Key Details: • Measles vaccination rates among kindergarteners fell from 95.2% to 92.5% from 2019-2025. • The CDC recommends MMR vaccinations at 12-15 months and again at 4-6 years. • A high vaccination coverage of 95% is necessary to minimize measles spread.

public-health cdc vaccination measles outbreak

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West TexasCDCSouth CarolinaPan American Health Organization

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