The Texas measles outbreak, which infected 762 people since late January and resulted in two child deaths and 100 hospitalizations, is now officially over as of August 18, 2025, after no new cases have been confirmed for over 42 days.

Health officials will continue monitoring for new cases by emphasizing testing, vaccination, and education efforts to prevent future spread.

This outbreak was linked to cases in Canada and Mexico and spread to other U.S. states, including a recent case in Colorado involving an unvaccinated adult, raising the state's total to 20 cases in 2025.

Although the U.S. achieved measles elimination status in 2000, outbreaks in undervaccinated communities nearly jeopardized this goal in 2019, and declining vaccination rates threaten to make measles endemic again within the next two decades.

In 2025, there have been 32 measles outbreaks across more than 40 states, more than doubling the number from 2024, which puts the U.S. measles elimination status at risk.

New Jersey reported a case linked to a traveler at Newark International Airport, with a total of six cases confirmed in 2025, highlighting ongoing risks of importation.

Measles can cause severe health issues, including hospitalization in 20% of cases, brain swelling, long-term hearing and cognitive problems, and increased risks during pregnancy.

Internationally, Israel reported over 500 cases in the past three months and a second death of an unvaccinated 18-month-old child, mostly affecting unvaccinated children in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh.

The recent large outbreak, initially linked to a Mennonite community, was one of the largest in recent U.S. history since measles was declared eliminated, with public health professionals playing a key role in containment.

The successful containment and control of the outbreak demonstrate the effectiveness of public health measures.

There is no scientific link between the MMR vaccine and autism, and the vaccine does not contain mercury or thimerosal.

The measles vaccine, part of the MMR shot, is safe and highly effective, having drastically reduced U.S. cases from half a million annually before 1963 to just 47 in 2023.

The ongoing emphasis remains on vaccination and monitoring to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.