Screenshot image of the CDC’s website, displaying a geographic map of America, specifying which states have a certain number of measles cases.
Consequences of Influence
Because of neglect, poor decision making and the United States’ choice to provide a platform to the wrong officials, we are in the midst of a medical outbreak. To specify, America is dealing with the concerningly recurring virus, Rubeola, which in layman’s terms, is Measles. And, while the average American believes that the Measles are nothing more than a blip in medical history, the virus haunts us to this day.
Vaccination Origination
In the year 2000, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) bestowed the status of eliminated threat on the Measles virus. A region achieves this status when disease does not domestically reproducing and occur in a singular geographic area, and America fits the bill. Although some holistically-living Americans believe it has nothing to do with a vaccine, it does.
This controversial vaccine, the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine (MMR), is the blockade which saved, and still saves, America from an eternal conundrum of splotchy red faces. Commonly unknown, the MMR vaccine is as the name suggests, a vaccine which straves away Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. It is a combination vaccine, incorporating the protective properties against each virus. The individual vaccines for each virus debuted in 1963, 1967 and 1969, respectively.
2024 Measels Stats
Regarding the yearly statistics on 2024 cases, the CDC said,
As of December 31, 2024, a total of 285 measles cases were reported by 33 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
To accompany this data, the CDC notes that in the year, there were 16 outbreaks of measles, and they defined an outbreak as three or more related cases. Furthermore, they discovered that 69 percent of total measles cases belonged to an outbreak.
And, on the same note, the CDC found that 89 percent of individuals who caught the Measles virus were unvaccinated.
Modern Day Kerfuffle
In 2024, the weekly measles cases capped out 38, on the week of March 17. Following that, the cases per week stayed low, the highest for the remainder of the year happening on July 7, reaching 13. However, on January 26, 2025, the weekly average surpassed the benchmark of 13, hitting 17. From that point on, the weekly averages continued to climb, climaxing on the week of February 16, 2025, resting at 88. Following that medical fever pitch, the averages dropped, with the latest report, March 30, residing at 26 weekly cases.
Reasoning Behind the Data
Now, it is suspicious that after a six-month time period, the first time the weekly average of measles cases surpassed 13 is just four days before inauguration day. For context, this recent inauguration day was one worth noting, as it was the second time President Donald J. Trump took the American office. Moreover, when President Trump returned to the Oval Office, he brought Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with him, appointing him to his presidential cabinet. Kennedy Jr. resides in the Cabinet as the U.S Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Why Kennedy’s place in our nation’s government is controversial is because of his staunch stance on vaccination. And to add, his stance is not supportive, he stays in clear opposition of vaccines, their availability and their usage. Adding on to this, we believe that his values are imprinting on Americans, which allows them to disregard the vaccine, leading to this spike of measles. If Kennedy Jr. did not have his position and prowess, we believe that America would rely on their trustworthy facts and use the MMR Vaccine.
Strong Influence
Although Kennedy Jr. was not the Secretary of Health and Human Services until February 13, 2025, his sphere of influence precedes this date by months. All throughout the Trump Administration’s campaign, it became common knowledge that Kennedy Jr. would be welcomed and embraced on the Presidential Cabinet. With that, it is also common knowledge that the Trump Administration is republican, meaning that Kennedy Jr. would and now will be pushing a conservative rhetoric. And furthermore, anti-vaccination rhetoric.
All of this information unsurprisingly correlates with the resurgence of Measles cases in Texas, a notoriously republican state, a state which Trump won in a historic fashion. How historic? Well, Trump won Texas by over 1.5 million votes, notching the second highest margin of victory in Texas voting history.
Blatant Disregard for Health
With this in mind, it makes sense that only four months into 2025, Texas houses more than 250 recorded measles cases. This situation highlights how loyal republicans have blindly embraced the Kennedy Jr. rhetoric, ultimately risking their health.
What is the most concerning about this viral infestation is that according to the CDC, 72 percent of recorded American measles cases, most of which reside in Texas, are cases involving those 19 and under, meaning mostly children. Moreover, the spread of the virus could be protected, only if adults still let their children receive the MMR vaccine, which they could satisfy at the age of six. But of course, because Kennedy Jr. is targeting his beliefs and voice towards these republican adults, and young children have limited involvement in their medical care, minors are impacted the most. And in turn, the virus turns to the adult population, as they account for the remaining 27 percent of measles cases.
2025 Measles Stats
In addition, as of April 4, 2025, the CDC adds that there are 607 recorded cases of the Measles virus nation-wide. With that, 97 percent of these instances are in unvaccinated individuals. Furthering this data, the CDC finds that unvaccinated Americans have a 90 percent chance to contract the virus upon contact, a statistic which far juxtaposes the protection rate of vaccinated people, being 97 percent.
Further Thoughts
We believe that these statistics should be nothing but an encouragement for Americans to get themselves and their children vaccinated. Knowing how a viral spread happens, and how it thrives off unvaccinated people, our youth is at risk and subsequently, so are we.
While some may bring up the argument that there are only two measle related fatalities in the year, this should not be a vaccination deterrent. If anything, the statistic is a symbol of the MMR Vaccine’s success. Anybody’s child or loved one can succumb to the virus and for the rest of eternity, belong to a grave, which is no joking matter.
How We Got Here and Why
Because an alarming number of Americans are falling into the fear-mongering behind the MMR Vaccine, the Measles are once again on the rise. Scientifically speaking, there is nothing inherently harmful about the vaccine. The only contents which could cause harm are gelatin and an antibiotic called neomycin, and they would only deal harm in the form of allergic reactions. With that, we understand that allergic reactions can reach serious heights and truly harm an individual. However, most times, these reactions are brief and resolve on without medical intervention.
With that, Americans should not let the small possibilities of allergen interactions deter them from protecting themselves and their children from viruses like measles. We must not slip and let the words of men like Kennedy Jr. coax us into a metaphorical corner. It is important to let science represent our medical needs and to fight the Measles virus with facts and trusted vaccines, not fear and conspiracy theories. Because when we do not, according to the World Health Organization, our nation experiences our first measles-related death in over a decade. Which is unacceptable.
