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3 states battling new measles outbreaks. What to know
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- Measles outbreaks are expanding in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia amid the worst U.S. measles year in over 30 years, with more than 2,700 cases reported nationwide in 2026, surpassing last year's total.
- Pennsylvania leads with 460 confirmed cases and reported the first measles-associated deaths of 2026, including a newborn infant; both deceased were unvaccinated, and community transmission has spread to 10 counties.
- Wisconsin is experiencing its largest measles outbreak since 1990, with 98 cases in the southwest region and nearly all affected individuals unvaccinated; the CDC has sent public health workers to assist with contact tracing.
- Georgia's outbreak centers on a metro Atlanta daycare, with 11 cases reported this year, the state's second-highest total in a decade, involving mostly unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children.
- Health officials emphasize the high contagiousness of measles, its airborne transmission, and recommend the MMR vaccine as the most effective protection, urging suspected cases to contact healthcare providers before in-person visits to prevent further spread.
