New map shows how to spot the measles risk level in your ZIP code

"As measles has spread throughout the United States, with cases recently reaching a 33-year high, many Americans have worried about their risk level. For the first time, a measles outbreak map has been created that allows people to type in their ZIP code and see an estimated percentage of their neighbors who have been vaccinated against measles, which can help determine the risk of the disease in their area."

"Vaccination status is the most critical factor in determining one's risk, doctors say, and lower rates of vaccination allow the virus to spread more easily in communities. The data was provided through a collaboration of researchers from Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine and Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai with researchers publishing their findings on Thursday in the journal Nature Health."

""We're seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of risk," said Dr. John Brownstein, co-author of the paper as well as an epidemiologist and ABC News medical contributor. U.S. seeing record-high measles cases Last year, the U.S. recorded its highest number of measles cases since 1992 with 2,144 infections across 44 states. An estimated 93% of cases were among those who were either unvaccinated or had unknown status, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

An interactive ZIP-code measles vaccination map estimates local vaccination percentages to help residents assess community risk. Vaccination status is the most critical determinant of measles risk, and lower vaccination rates facilitate viral spread. Measles cases recently reached a 33-year high nationwide, with the U.S. recording 2,144 infections across 44 states last year. Approximately 93% of cases involved people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Nearly 50 outbreaks occurred last year, compared with 16 in 2024 and four in 2023, and almost 90% of 2025 cases were outbreak-associated. Data for the map came from a collaboration among Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine and Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco