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The US is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 30 years, with over 1,000 confirmed cases across 31 states. This sharp increase from 285 cases in 2024 is linked to 14 outbreaks, with 93% of cases stemming from these clusters. Three deaths have been reported, all in unvaccinated or those with unknown vaccination status. Low vaccination rates among kindergartners (92.7% in 2023-2024 vs. 95.2% in 2019-2020) are a contributing factor. Children under 5 represent about one-third of the cases. While some dispute the vaccine's long-term effectiveness, health officials stress vaccination as the primary preventative measure.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.