Here are the latest publicly reported updates on measles as of now.
- United States: The CDC and partner agencies have documented continued measles activity in 2025, with notable increases in cases compared to prior years and outbreaks linked to several states. Reports through mid-2025 show hundreds to over a thousand cases nationally, with the majority of patients unvaccinated or vaccination status unknown, and several hospitalizations and a few deaths cited in outbreaks .
- Global context: WHO and CDC estimates indicate that measles remains a leading vaccine-preventable cause of death when vaccination coverage lapses. Worldwide data for 2023–2024 show millions of cases and ongoing deaths in some regions, though vaccination efforts have reduced deaths substantially over the long term .
- Americas and PAHO: Several countries in the Americas reported outbreaks in 2025, with thousands of cases across multiple jurisdictions and calls for strengthened immunization campaigns and surveillance to close immunity gaps .
What this means for you in Lisbon:
- Local risk remains low if you are vaccinated and maintain routine immunization, but global outbreaks can influence travel-related exposure and importation risk. Check with Portugal’s public health advisories or your local health service for current guidance if you plan to travel to or from high-incidence regions.
- Vaccination is the best protection. Ensure you and your children are up to date with the MMR vaccine according to national schedules.
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent country-specific guidance for Portugal or provide a quick briefing on vaccination recommendations for adults traveling internationally.
Citations:
- Measles updates and outbreak details in the United States from CDC reports and news coverage.[1][2][4]
- WHO/CDC global context and 2023–2024 measles data.[7][9]
- Regional outbreak reporting in the Americas and PAHO guidance.[10]
Sources
Global immunization efforts have led to an 88% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2024, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Nearly 59 million lives have been saved by the measles vaccine since 2000.
www.who.int: Page 2
www.cbsnews.comThe U.S. has hit an unwelcome milestone in measles cases this year. The CDC is reporting 1,288 cases across the country. The disease was declared eliminated 25 years ago.
www.npr.orgGeorgia's health department reports 3 new measles infections with links to the state's most recent case.
www.cidrap.umn.eduIn South Carolina, more than 150 unvaccinated schoolkids are under quarantine after being exposed to measles. Across the U.S., total case counts could be even higher than the official number.
www.npr.orgAcross the country, confirmed cases are nearing 2,000, closing in on the highest number since 1992.
www.nbcnews.comWorldwide, there were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).
www.who.intThis report describes measles cases reported to CDC by 25 U.S. jurisdictions as of April 17, 2025.
www.cdc.govPAHO calls for action to close immunization gapsWashington, D.C., 15 August 2025 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas to strengthen immunization activities, enhance disease surveillance and rapid response interventions, as measles cases continue to rise in the region. As of 8 August 2025, a total of 10,139 confirmed measles cases and 18 related deaths have been reported across ten countries, representing a 34-fold increase compared to the...
www.paho.org