We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming

Measles, a disease once rarely seen in the United States, is making a troubling comeback. Between 1993 and 2024, annual cases were typically limited to a few hundred. However, recent developments indicate that measles has become a persistent threat to public health, often going unnoticed until a new outbreak occurs. As of March 2026, measles has been circulating in the US for over a year. The first significant outbreak originated in Texas, lasting from January to August 2025. Before that outbreak was officially declared over, another outbreak emerged along the Utah-Arizona border in August and continues to spread. Furthermore, South Carolina reported its own outbreak in September, which surged dramatically in January 2026 and remains active. Health officials have recorded approximately 1,300 measles infections this year alone as of March 6, placing the nation on track to exceed the previous year's figures, which represented the highest incidence in 35 years. At Brown University's Pandemic Center, experts specializing in outbreak preparedness and response regard the resurgence of measles as a troubling indicator of future public health challenges. The primary driver behind these outbreaks is a significant decline in vaccination rates across the country. While about 90 percent of Americans have received the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, certain areas report vaccination rates dipping below 60 percent. Since 2019-2020, the overall vaccination coverage has fallen below the critical 95 percent threshold required for herd immunity. Maintaining this level of vaccination nationally, as well as locally, is essential to prevent the disease from infiltrating unvaccinated communities.