America is within the midst of the second-highest yr of measles instances since 2000, when the illness was declared eradicated on this nation, which means that instances inside the US originated outdoors the nation. As of Could 8, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2025, there have been over a thousand confirmed U.S. instances of measles and three confirmed deaths from measles.
As a result of many instances go unreported, this quantity is taken into account an undercount. In distinction to the present outbreak, from the time the US declared that measles was now not endemic by final yr (2000-2024), there’s been a mean of about 180 measles instances a yr.
Whereas many Individuals understand how measles can unfold, most can not precisely estimate the prevalence of problems related to measles reminiscent of hospitalization or the dangers it presents throughout being pregnant, in line with the newest Annenberg Science and Public Well being (ASAPH) survey, which was performed amongst 1,653 empaneled U.S. adults from April 15-28, 2025, by the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania.
The survey finds that greater than 8 in 10 Individuals (83%) should not frightened that they or somebody of their household will contract measles over the following three months. “For the reason that overwhelming variety of people on this nation, together with kids, both have had measles or have been vaccinated in opposition to it, it’s unsurprising that few are frightened about getting the virus,” stated Kathleen Corridor Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart and of the survey.
“However with measles instances reported in 31 states and vaccination charges dropping, everybody needs to be educated in regards to the signs, therapy, and the prevention of measles by the extremely efficient MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.”
The 2 doses of the measles vaccine—that are really helpful at ages 12-to-15 months for the primary dose and 4 to six years previous for the second dose—are 97% efficient at stopping measles amongst those that are vaccinated and uncovered to it, the CDC reviews.
Stopping measles with the MMR vaccine
Though many years of analysis have established that the childhood vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) is the finest method to defend in opposition to measles, some dad and mom are hesitant to have their kids vaccinated, partly due to the debunked declare that the MMR vaccine may cause autism.
Two-thirds of Individuals (67%) say the purported hyperlink between MMR and autism is a false one. Whereas the proportion who say the MMR vaccine doesn’t trigger autism is sizable, it’s considerably decrease than the 74% who stated so in June 2021, when the ASAPH survey first requested this query. Within the present survey, 1 in 7 individuals (14%) say it’s true that the MMR vaccine causes autism, a rise of 5 proportion factors from June 2021 (9%).
To most Individuals, the advantages of the MMR vaccine for youngsters outweigh the dangers by a large margin (83% vs. 17%). Nonetheless, the share of Individuals who imagine the advantages outweigh the dangers has dropped barely however considerably from August 2023, when 89% stated the advantages outweighed the dangers. Additional, 81% say it’s true that medical professionals advocate that those that are capable of be safely vaccinated take the MMR vaccine even when their probabilities of publicity are low. This proportion is considerably larger in comparison with April 2024, when 74% stated this was true.
Most agree on vaccine necessities for youngsters to attend public faculty
When requested about their views on MMR vaccine necessities for youngsters attending faculty, vastly extra individuals agree that wholesome kids needs to be required to be vaccinated to attend public faculty due to the potential threat to others who should not vaccinated (70%) than say dad and mom ought to be capable to resolve, even when it creates dangers for others (18%).
These outcomes present a major uptick in help for varsity vaccine necessities within the 20 months since August 2023 (63%), and a major decline amongst these supporting parental alternative (22% in August 2023).
Measles dangers throughout being pregnant not extensively understood
For people who find themselves pregnant and haven’t had the MMR vaccine, getting measles can result in critical problems, reminiscent of delivering a low-birth weight child and early supply. When requested to pick amongst a listing of problems that might happen in somebody with measles who’s pregnant, a 3rd of survey respondents appropriately establish delivering a low birthweight child (34%) or experiencing an early supply (34%) as problems of getting measles whereas pregnant.
Extra individuals establish dying as a potential complication this yr (16%, considerably greater than the 12% final yr). A small variety of individuals incorrectly point out that diabetes (7%) and blurred imaginative and prescient (11%) usually tend to happen you probably have measles whereas pregnant. They don’t seem to be. Most Individuals (57%) say they don’t seem to be positive what the problems are.
The CDC recommends measles vaccination earlier than however not throughout being pregnant for many who are unvaccinated; nonetheless, solely 15% know this. The CDC notes: “Though MMR is a protected and efficient vaccine, there’s a theoretical threat to the infant. It’s because it’s a dwell vaccine, which means it comprises a weakened model of the dwelling viruses.”
The CDC recommends the MMR vaccine be given a month or extra earlier than somebody turns into pregnant, if that individual was not already vaccinated in opposition to measles, mumps, and rubella.
Most understand how measles unfold, however few grasp dangers
Amid the present measles outbreak, almost 6 in 10 (58%) say there are extra measles instances within the U.S. than within the comparable interval final yr. Greater than 1 / 4 (27%) point out that they don’t seem to be positive whether or not there are extra instances than final yr, 5% suppose there are fewer instances, and 11% say the variety of instances is about the identical.
- Extra individuals understand how measles spreads: Most Individuals can establish widespread methods measles spreads. Two-thirds (66%) appropriately say that measles will be unfold by touching a contaminated floor after which touching one’s nostril, mouth, or eyes, a major improve from final April when 59% indicated this as a way of spreading measles. Barely fewer Individuals (63%) appropriately say that measles will be unfold by coughing or sneezing, no statistical distinction from final yr.
- Few know the measles incubation interval: Only a few of these surveyed understand how lengthy an individual contaminated with measles can unfold the virus earlier than growing the signature measles rash. One in 7 (14%) appropriately estimate that an individual can unfold the an infection for 4 days earlier than growing a rash, whereas 12% estimate that the interval is one week. Nearly all of individuals (55%) report not being positive. These outcomes are unchanged from April 2024.
- Few precisely estimate signs and problems: Though a majority of respondents know widespread ways in which measles can unfold, about half of Individuals specific uncertainty about how typically sure problems happen—and solely a small proportion can precisely estimate them. Accuracy was decided for these signs if the respondent estimated the incidence inside a variety of ± 4 proportion factors of the particular CDC incidence.
Respondents had been requested to estimate the quantity of people that would expertise particular signs and problems out of 100 individuals with measles.
- Hospitalization. The CDC reviews that about 13% of people that obtained measles in 2025 had been hospitalized, however simply over 1 in 8 Individuals (13%) estimate this incidence appropriately. A 3rd (33%) say they don’t seem to be positive in regards to the incidence and the rest both overestimate (36%) or underestimate (17%) the incidence of these with measles who will grow to be hospitalized. This represents no important change from 2024.
- Diarrhea. In keeping with the CDC, about 1 in 10 individuals who grow to be contaminated with measles will expertise diarrhea because of this. Fifty-four % of Individuals should not positive how many individuals out of 100 with measles would expertise diarrhea, a major improve in uncertainty of 6 proportion factors since April 2024, after we final requested this query (48% not sure). 4% estimate precisely, 33% overestimate the incidence (down considerably from 40% final yr), and seven% underestimate the quantity.
Beliefs about non-vaccine remedies for measles
Visiting Texas through the measles outbreak in March of this yr, U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Companies Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated in a Fox Information interview that docs had been getting constructive outcomes by treating measles with, amongst different issues, cod liver oil, which comprises “excessive concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D.“
Well being specialists grew involved that the emphasis on vitamin A could possibly be misheard to counsel that vitamin A might forestall the illness amongst these uncovered to it. Nonetheless, specialists on infectious illnesses emphasize that vitamin A can not forestall somebody from getting measles.
And a latest New York Instances story reviews that Texas physicians treating measles sufferers say they’ve cared for “a handful of unvaccinated kids who got a lot vitamin A that that they had indicators of liver injury.” (See our challenge FactCheck.org’s report on Kennedy’s latest, deceptive statements about measles.)
The ASAPH survey requested about vitamin A and cod liver oil as a safety measure in opposition to measles and located {that a} plurality says that taking a each day dose of vitamin A (46%) or a considerable amount of cod liver oil every day (47%) has no impact on whether or not one will get measles. An equal quantity are not sure in regards to the effectiveness of every (45% and 48%, respectively). Simply 9% say taking vitamin A each day helps defend one in opposition to getting measles and simply 4% say taking giant quantities of cod liver oil every day would do the identical.
As for the overall well being advantages of taking a considerable amount of cod liver oil every single day, 48% say they’re not sure whether or not there are any well being advantages or not. Simply as many say cod liver oil improves an individual’s well being (16%) as say it harms (15%) one’s well being. (A 2024 examine suggests that fish oil dietary supplements “may be a threat issue” amongst wholesome individuals for atrial fibrillation and stroke.) A fifth (22%) say taking giant quantities of cod liver oil every single day has no impact on one’s well being come what may.
The ASAPH survey
The survey knowledge come from the twenty fourth wave of a nationally consultant panel of 1,653 U.S. adults, first empaneled in April 2021, performed for the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart by SSRS, an impartial market analysis firm. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being Data (ASAPH) survey was fielded April 15-April 28, 2025.
The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.4 proportion factors on the 95% confidence stage. All figures are rounded to the closest entire quantity and will not add to 100%. Mixed subcategories could not add to totals within the topline and textual content as a consequence of rounding.
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Individuals say advantages of MMR vaccine for youngsters outweigh dangers by almost 5-1, survey finds (2025, Could 16)
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