Global Measles Alarms Rise: Outbreaks Sweep Across the U.S. and Europe

From Utah to Ukraine, measles is making a dangerous comeback. New outbreaks in the United States mirror an alarming surge across Europe the highest in more than 25 years reigniting calls for stronger vaccination efforts.

U.S. Outbreaks Spread in Three States

According to CNN, health officials have reported measles outbreaks in Utah, Arizona, and South Carolina, marking one of the most widespread resurgences of the virus in the United States in decades.

In Utah, more than 30 cases have been confirmed across multiple counties, with the state’s Department of Health tracing exposure to daycare centers and schools.
Arizona has recorded at least 40 confirmed infections, prompting emergency vaccination drives around Phoenix and Tucson.
In South Carolina, health officials confirmed 18 cases, including several in unvaccinated children.

The CDC says the country has now surpassed 1,500 total cases in 2025, the highest number since 1992. Nearly all U.S. infections have occurred among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination history.

Dr. Manisha Patel of the CDC warned that the virus “spreads like wildfire wherever immunity gaps exist,” urging Americans to verify that both doses of the MMR vaccine are up to date.

Europe Records Its Worst Year in Decades

Across the Atlantic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF report that the European Region recorded 127,350 measles cases in 2024 more than double the previous year and the highest total since 1997.

The outbreaks have affected 40 countries, including major surges in Kazakhstan, Romania, the United Kingdom, and France. Children under five represent over 40 % of reported cases, and more than half of all patients required hospitalization.

Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, called it “a wake-up call for all of us measles is back, and vaccination is the only way to stop it.”

WHO and UNICEF attribute the spike to declining vaccine coverage following COVID-19 disruptions and ongoing vaccine hesitancy in several European countries.

Why It’s Happening

Measles is among the most contagious diseases known one infected person can transmit it to up to 90 % of unprotected people nearby. Even short lapses in vaccination coverage allow the virus to re-establish itself.

Public health agencies on both continents point to:

Missed childhood immunizations during the pandemic
Vaccine misinformation and complacency among parents
Uneven access in rural and low-income areas

Experts warn that without urgent action, measles could become endemic again in regions where it was previously eliminated.

Health Officials Urge Action

Authorities in both the U.S. and Europe are racing to boost MMR vaccination rates to above the critical 95 % herd-immunity threshold.

Campaigns include:

Free “catch-up” vaccination clinics in schools and community centers
Targeted outreach to under-vaccinated populations
Rapid public-awareness drives to combat misinformation

Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO Director of Immunization, said:

“Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere. Every missed vaccine dose gives the virus another opportunity to spread.”

The Global Picture

The parallel outbreaks in the U.S. and Europe show how easily infectious diseases cross borders in an interconnected world. With international travel back at pre-pandemic levels, public-health experts emphasize that coordinated surveillance and vaccination campaigns are vital.

The resurgence is also a stark reminder of the importance of public trust in science and how misinformation can erode decades of progress in disease prevention.