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US measles cases hit 2,318 in 2026, surpassing last year's total: CDC
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Key Points:
- The U.S. has reported 2,318 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, surpassing last year's total of 2,289 and marking the highest number since 1991, according to the CDC.
- Measles cases have been confirmed in 43 states and the District of Columbia, with 93% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
- Children and teenagers aged 19 and younger represent the majority of cases, with about 10% of children under 5 hospitalized due to the disease.
- Vaccination rates have declined slightly, with 92.5% of kindergartners receiving the MMR vaccine in the 2024-2025 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019-2020, raising concerns about losing the U.S.'s measles elimination status.
- Experts attribute the rise in cases to declining vaccination rates, diminished fear of measles, loss of trust in public health institutions, and unclear communication from health officials.
