AI Generated Image
Measles cases top 3,000, CDC reports, the highest in more than 3 decades
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- A 6-week-old baby girl with a rare genetic disorder is one of two measles-related infant deaths in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, amid a state outbreak totaling about 577 cases in recent months.
- The U.S. measles outbreak has reached 3,134 cases in 2026, the highest in 35 years, with accelerating outbreaks in Wisconsin and Ohio contributing to rising infection numbers.
- Experts warn that measles is becoming endemic in the U.S., fueled by declining vaccination rates, leading to increased hospitalizations and healthcare costs, with projections of over 5,000 cases this year.
- The Pan American Health Organization will assess in November whether the U.S. has lost its measles elimination status due to ongoing transmission chains and unknown infection sources lasting over 12 months.
- Controversy surrounds recent Pennsylvania measles deaths, with conflicting statements from state officials and delayed CDC acknowledgment, while additional measles-related deaths have been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico.
