Two peer-reviewed research reports published in quick succession reach the same sobering conclusion about why some measles outbreaks are so difficult to control — and what it means for the outbreaks still active across the United States right now.
A CDC-led Notes from the Field report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report examining the 2025 West Texas measles outbreak and a paper published in the journal Vaccine on the 2025–2026 South Carolina school-based outbreak both identify community distrust of outside institutions as a significant obstacle to effective outbreak response — one that low vaccination rates alone do not fully explain. Both reports also conclude that maintaining high vaccination coverage remains the most effective intervention for preventing measles and limiting its spread.
