U.S. measles cases have reached a 35-year high, with federal health officials confirming that infections in 2026 have already surpassed the total recorded for all of last year—with five months still remaining in the year.
Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the United States has recorded 2,318 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026. That figure officially eclipses the 2,289 cases logged across the entire 12 months of 2025, marking the highest annual total since 1991, when 9,643 cases were reported.
The top states driving the surge include South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Virginia, and Florida, alongside new clusters recently reported in states like Pennsylvania and Arizona.
Public health experts attribute the continued resurgence of the highly contagious virus to declining routine childhood vaccination rates across several states.
According to the CDC’s figures:
Vaccination Status: 93% of individuals infected this year were either completely unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
Impact on Youth: Children and young adults are bearing the brunt of the surge. 69% of cases have occurred in individuals aged 5 to 19, while 20% involve children under the age of 5.
Hospitalization Rates: Approximately 7% of patients (151 people) have required hospitalization this year, down slightly from the 11% hospitalization rate seen in 2025.
Outbreak Clusters: 93% of all 2026 cases are tied to active outbreak clusters across 45 states and jurisdictions.
Measles was officially declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, meaning the virus was no longer constantly circulating within domestic borders. However, public health organizations warn that continuous, year-round transmission since early 2025 threatens to strip the country of its official elimination status.
“Halfway into 2026, the U.S. is experiencing the worst year for measles since 1991,” said Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionately hurts children… We should not accept this as our new normal.”
Measles is an extremely contagious airborne virus that spreads through coughing, sneezing, and breathing contaminated air. Symptoms typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed days later by a distinctive red rash.
The CDC continues to advise that two doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine offer approximately 97% protection against the disease. Health officials urge parents to ensure children are up to date on their immunizations, particularly as school districts prepare for the upcoming academic year.
