Facts Matter – CDC Warns of Significant Measles Uptick Across US; Most Cases Recorded in 33 Years

Podcast: Facts Matter
Host: The Epoch Times (Roman)
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the troubling resurgence of measles in the United States, reporting that 2025 saw the highest number of measles cases since 1992. Roman breaks down the CDC’s alarming statistics, explores possible causes—including declining vaccination rates and exposure via recent surges in migrants—and compares trends in the U.S. to similar spikes in Europe. The episode aims to give historical context, present both sides of the debate, and raise questions about the root causes and necessary public health responses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Background on Measles in the U.S.

• Pre-vaccine era: Measles was a major public health threat.
  • “In the first decade of reporting, an average of 6,000 measles related deaths were reported each year.” [01:25]
  • “In the decade before 1963... nearly all children got measles by the time they were 15...3 to 4 million people in the US were infected each year.” [01:45]
  • 400-500 annual deaths, 48,000 hospitalizations, 1,000 encephalitis cases pre-vaccine.
• Measles declared eliminated in 2000—thanks to vaccination programs and improved control in the Americas.

2. Current State and Recent Spike

• 2025 statistics:
  • “CDC came out… the number of measles cases... climbed to over 2000 in 2025. Specifically… 2,144 confirmed measles cases throughout the US in 2025.” [03:05]
  • Largest number since 1992; previous recent peak was 1,274 in 2019.
• Clusters and outbreaks:
  • 49 distinct outbreaks, with northwest Texas as the biggest hotspot: “Texas as a state recorded a whopping over 800 cases just by that state alone… the majority… connected to a Mennonite community... with members getting vaccinated at a much lower rate.” [04:15]
• Herd immunity concerns:
  • CDC recommends 95% vaccination coverage for herd immunity.
  • “Among kindergarteners nationwide, the measles vaccination rate dipped to 92.5% in the 2024-2025 school year. In some parts of the country, rates are even lower. In Gaines County… the rate was 82%.” [05:00]
• Post-COVID trust issues:
  • “After those trying years, so many more people trust the government less...there has been a huge dip in measles vaccinations.” [05:15]

3. Nationwide Spread and Case Studies

• Other notable outbreaks:
  • Northeast Ohio (Cuyahoga County), Platte County, Nebraska, Albuquerque, New Mexico, South Carolina.
  • South Carolina: “20 new cases… bringing the total related to an outbreak in northern South Carolina to 176. Nearly 300 people are in quarantine or isolation.” [06:10]
  • Schools and churches identified as exposure sites.
    • “Officials reported that Tabernacle of Salvation Church, Slavic Pentecostal Church of Spartanburg, Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg, and Arc of Salvation Church are among the churches where exposures were reported.” [08:15]
  • Philadelphia International Airport exposure, new cases in Ohio, Washington State, New Jersey, Kansas City, Delaware, Missouri, Georgia, and New York.

4. Why the Uptick? Two Main Explanations

• A) Falling Vaccination Rates After COVID
  • National MMR coverage dropped below 95%, lowering herd immunity.
  • Public skepticism post-pandemic is cited as a major factor.
• B) Migration from Countries with Measles Outbreaks
  • Example: Chicago outbreak linked to migrant facility
    • “Since August of 2022, about 41,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago from the southern U.S. border, 88% of them from Venezuela, which has seen a decline in routine childhood vaccinations…” [11:25]
    • Congregate shelter setting exacerbated spread: one initial case led to 57 by May 2024.
    • “Once this was identified, the measles outbreak began to spread exponentially.” [13:45]
• Western Europe comparator:
  • Europe’s herd immunity eroded post-migration; huge spike in cases: “In 2022, there were 941 reported cases...over the first 10 months of [2023]... there were more than 30,000. This is the kind of spike, a 3,000% increase that looks implausible in headlines.” [15:05]
  • “In just one of England's nine regions, the West Midlands, 260 cases have been confirmed... in a country which… recorded just two cases as recently as 2021.” [16:15]

5. Public Health Interventions and Ongoing Debate

• CDC response: Mass vaccination campaign in Chicago migrant shelters.
  • “The CDC swooped in and… got the MMR vaccine into 93% of the illegal migrants who were within the Chicago shelter system… helped to end the outbreak.” [17:55]
• Media and Authority Positioning:
  • CDC and New York Times emphasize American vaccine hesitancy, not migration, as primary driver:
    • NYT: “Between the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 school years, CDC found that the share of American kindergartners up to date on MMR vaccines fell from 95% to 94% and then to 93%. These declines are not insignificant… but it also isn't a landscape-shifting cliff drop. For 2021 to 2022, only nine states exhibited declines of 2% or larger.” [18:50]
• Host’s take and call for more research:
  • “There is a real lack of solid evidence… pointing to illegal immigration driving this increase in measles cases in the US nationwide. If you use common sense… they'll probably bring measles with them. …but there is the other side… where those measles outbreaks will probably affect areas where there are more unvaccinated people for measles. So they kind of work together.” [20:10]
  • Invites listeners to share scientific studies if they know of any.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On herd immunity:
  • “Measles cannot spread well in areas with at least 95% coverage, a concept known as herd immunity.” [05:00]
• On exponential spread:
  • “...with measles you have to really look not at the raw numbers, but at the trajectory.” [14:10]
  • “Once it starts spreading, it can spread incredibly fast.” [10:03]
• On CDC response in Chicago:
  • “...the CDC swooped in and they began a mass vaccination campaign which within the span of just several months got the MMR vaccine into 93% of the illegal migrants... and the CDC claimed that that helped to end the outbreak.” [17:55]
• Balanced conclusion:
  • “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I'm pointing to something that doesn't exist. Maybe they're completely separate. Maybe it is the downtrend in vaccination rates that's leading to an uptick of measles completely separate from the illegal migration question. Who knows?” [21:10]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:50 – 02:45: Historical overview of measles in the U.S.; impact of vaccination
• 03:05 – 04:35: 2025 case numbers; comparison to previous years; Texas outbreak explained
• 05:00 – 06:55: Discussion of herd immunity; vaccination rates; post-COVID skepticism
• 06:10 – 09:00: Detail on South Carolina outbreak and spread mechanisms
• 11:25 – 14:10: Chicago migrant shelter outbreak – case study
• 15:05 – 16:35: Rapid escalation in measles cases in Western Europe post-migration
• 17:55 – 18:45: CDC intervention in Chicago; public health messaging
• 18:50 – 21:10: Media framing; role of vaccination rates vs. migration debate

Tone, Language & Closing Thoughts

Roman maintains a factual, moderately skeptical tone, repeatedly offering both mainstream expert opinions and alternative explanations. He emphasizes giving listeners the facts to “decide the rest.” The episode is direct and data-driven, combining U.S. and international perspectives to explore complex causality. The discussion concludes with an open call for more research and the importance of keeping informed.

For further reading: Episode resources and research notes are linked in the description, inviting engaged listeners to dive deeper.