Measles and whooping cough cases rise as vaccination rates lag
The Story
A new report indicates that vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation, is driving surges of measles and whooping cough in the United States. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nationally there have been 1,983 measles cases this year, approaching the 2,288 total for all of 2025, which was the worst year since 1991. Halfway through the year, 12 states and the District of Columbia already have more measles cases than they did for a full year in 2025, with South Carolina and Utah seeing cases more than double last year. Whooping cough is also on the rise, particularly in Ohio and Florida, with 22 deaths last year — the highest since 2010, according to provisional CDC statistics. Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to cause more than 1,000 deaths a month, with wastewater surveillance showing hotspots in the Appalachian region and some other states. A new Ebola outbreak in central Africa has prompted the Trump administration to open a quarantine center in Kenya for Americans exposed to the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Infectious Diseases Society of America criticized the quarantine decision, raising questions about resources, timing, and the level of care Americans would receive.
Key Facts
- There have been 1,983 measles cases in the U.S. this year, nearly matching the 2,288 total for all of 2025.
- Twelve states and the District of Columbia already have more measles cases than they did for a full year in 2025.
- South Carolina has 669 measles cases this year, the highest in the nation; Utah has 484.
- Whooping cough deaths last year were at the highest level (22) since 2010, according to CDC data.
- COVID-19 is still causing more than 1,000 deaths a month, with hotspots in the Appalachian region and Michigan.
- The Trump administration opened a quarantine center in Kenya on May 29 for Americans exposed to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- A May 22 CDC directive prohibits entry of non-citizens who had been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days.
- The Ebola outbreak has killed 224 people, with more than 900 suspected cases.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Dr. Andrew Pavia, pediatrician and professor at the University of Utah, speaking at a May 26 briefing for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
- Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, pediatrician and professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Sources: stateline.org
