Right-wing media downplayed the likelihood of a measles outbreak. U.S. cases just reached a new high since the disease was eliminated.

Written by Jane Lee, Alicia Sadowski, Isabella Corrao & Helena Hind

Published

After a February measles outbreak beginning in Texas, measles cases in the U.S. have reached the highest point since the disease was eliminated in 2000. Right-wing media have downplayed the potential of a measles outbreak.

  • The number of measles cases has reached its highest point since 2000

    • In February at least 100 cases of measles were reported in the U.S., mainly affecting children and teenagers. Many cases occurred in Gaines County, Texas, where “coverage of the MMR vaccine is particularly low. … Nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergarteners in the 2023-2024 school year did not get the vaccine.” [CNN, 2/18/25; USA Today, 2/20/25; CBS News, 2/26/25]
    • Experts attribute the resurgence in measles in part to low vaccination rates. Community-wide vaccinations are critical to preventing the spread of measles because the disease is highly contagious. Over “90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed end up contracting it” and outbreaks can “result in severe complications and deaths, especially among young, malnourished children.” According to the CDC, one in five unvaccinated people in the U.S. who contract measles end up hospitalized. [USA Today, 2/20/25; World Health Organization, 11/14/24; Business Insider, 2/20/25]
    • As of July 8, the U.S. has over 1200 reported cases of measles since the Texas outbreak. Dr. David Sugerman, a senior scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the loss of COVID-19 grant money has impacted attempts to curb the outbreak by creating “funding limitations” in Texas. [NBC News, 7/8/25]

  • Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, right-wing media dismissed the possibility of a measles outbreak

    • Newsmax host Emma Rechenberg dismissed CNN’s concerns over a measles outbreak, sarcastically asking, “Really, Jake Tapper?” Guest Curtis Houck agreed, labelling the concerns “more hysterical stuff.” [Newsmax, The National Report, 11/15/24] 
    • Newsmax host Bianca de la Garza said CNN bringing up a potential measles outbreak “seems like just fearmongering." “RFK Jr. is going to make your kids, I don’t know, get the measles when he’s actually talking about maybe just some things that would make a lot of the obesity go down." [Newsmax, Newsline, 11/15/24]  
    • Fox host Jesse Watters dismissed CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s concerns over measles: “I’m starting to think he’s being told what to say." Watters: “Jake Tapper was a debate moderator, and what does he have? ‘I hope you like measles.’ I'm starting to think he's being told what to say, because the ad sales guys over at CNN might be saying, ‘Don't go after big food and big pharma,’ because they've lost $250 million over the last four years under Joe Biden, because you can't do that and continue to have a real job." [Fox News, The Five, 11/15/24] 
    • Watters asked Fox News guest and former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. adviser Calley Means if he could “respond to Senator [Elizabeth] Warren who says that you guys and this crew are going to bring back polio, measles, mumps, and the plague." Means dismissed the concern and defended Kennedy’s nomination for the secretary of health and human services. [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 12/13/24]