The Economic Impact of the Ongoing Measles Outbreak

Published
Infectious Diseases
Healthcare bill with stethoscope

Twenty-five years following measles elimination in the United States, more than 320 measles cases (link is external)have been reported in the US so far in 2025, more than all of the cases reported throughout 2024. Nearly all of these cases have been identified in those who are unvaccinated against measles or in those whose vaccination status is unknown, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all children receive two doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) to protect against infection. 

With one confirmed death associated with the current outbreak, the health implications of measles are evident; perhaps less obvious is the economic burden. Beyond the direct medical costs of treating patients through both outpatient visits and hospitalizations, significant resources are needed to respond to and control measles outbreaks, with costs associated with identifying cases through diagnostic tests and performing contract tracing, among other expenses. Economic analyses must also account for costs to productivity, such as lost wages for those quarantined with measles, their caregivers, and those who were exposed and lacked evidence of immunity. 

From December 2018 to April 2019, 71 measles cases(link is external) were confirmed during an outbreak in Washington State. Researchers calculated the overall cost(link is external) of the outbreak to be US$3.14 million, or US$47,479 per case. Direct medical costs were just the tip of the iceberg, with the public health response incurring approximately two-thirds of the total (more than US$2.3M). 

As the number of measles cases in the United States continues to grow, so too does the price tag associated with this outbreak. Bryan Patenaude, ScD, MA, an economist at IVAC, also noted that beyond the short-term expenses, there are also potential longer-term costs of suboptimal vaccination coverage. For example, infants are generally protected against measles by their mothers’ immune systems until they are eligible for vaccination. Unvaccinated children born into settings where measles virus is not yet ubiquitous will grow into unvaccinated mothers, meaning that their infants are left susceptible to disease, Patenaude explained. Newborns infected with measles virus are more likely to experience complications, resulting in an even higher financial cost, and so future outbreaks may become even more costly than present outbreaks to mitigate. 

These financial implications must be considered as we respond to the measles outbreak that continues to unfold in the US. We must continue to focus on increasing vaccination coverage, which will reduce the number of susceptible individuals and help to protect even those who are too young to be vaccinated. 

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