(Washington) The United States has recorded its worst epidemic of measles since the beginning of 2025 in more than 30 years, according to a count of Johns Hopkins University on Monday, a crisis that the United States Health Secretary, the Robert Kennedy Jr vaccinosceptic, is accused of feeding.
This very contagious and serious disease, formerly eliminated from the country thanks to the vaccines, signs a return in the background of the drop in vaccination rates and increasing distrust of the health authorities.
As a result: 1277 cases experienced since the start of the year in nearly 40 of the 50 American states, Texas representing more than 60 % of cases, according to the Database of Johns Hopkins University.
This is the highest number of cases since 1992.
The epidemic killed three people, including two young children. An assessment which would be largely underestimated according to several experts, who are concerned about an under-declaration of the cases.
Before that, the last infantile death in the United States dates back to 2003, three years after measles was officially declared there thanks to vaccination.
The last major epidemic was recorded in 2019 in Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey, with 1274 cases but no death to deplore.
Measles causes fever, respiratory symptoms and rashes, and in some cases more serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation that can cause serious sequelae and death.
The epidemic broke out at the end of January in a rural area of Texas where a Mennonite religious community lives, an ultra -conservative population and little vaccinated.
Photo Javier Gallegos, Associated Press Archives
The American secretary for health, Robert Kennedy Jr
Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr is accused of having aggravated this health crisis by fueling fears with regard to the measles vaccine, in particular by the dissemination of false information about it.
The year 2025 marks a return in power of the disease on the North American continent, Canada and Mexico being also plagued by strong epidemics.
More than 3,500 cases have been identified since the start of the year in Canada, the vast majority in Ontario, and an infant is dead.
And in Mexico, nearly 2,600 cases and nine dead have been recorded, the Pan -American health organization reported in early July.
