Cases of measles, one of the world's most infectious and once deemed eliminated diseases, were reported at two major US airports during peak holiday travel.

The first case of measles was identified in a passenger at Terminals B and C at Newark Liberty International Airport on December 12, according to a New Jersey Department of Health press release. The second case was reported among a traveler who was on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, arriving at Terminal B at Boston Logan International Airport on December 24, according to a Massachusetts Department of Public Health press release.

The total number of measles cases in the United States have surpassed 2,000 for the first time in more than 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total 2,012 cases were reported in the U.S., as of December 23, 2025, which includes 24 reported among international visitors and 44 jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Measles cases were last reported to have surpassed 2,000 in 1992, when a total 2,126 were reported, according to the CDC. An estimated 11% of patients this year were hospitalized and more than half were under the age of 19, while 93% were reported to be unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination statues.

Only 3% of cases were reported among individuals who had just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 4% were among people who received the recommended two doses, the CDC confirmed. There have been 50 outbreaks of measles reported in the U.S. in 2025, a spike from the 16 reported in 2026, which includes an ongoing outbreak in South Carolina, which had 179 cases confirmed as of December 30, most of which are around Spartanburg County. Measles is considered one of the most contagious known viruses in the world and can hang in the air for hours, with non-vaccinated people nearly always becoming infected if exposed to it.

Lucy Chapman