US measles cases reach 35-year high, for second record-breaking year in a row

Key Points:

• Measles cases in the US have surged to record levels in 2026, surpassing totals not seen since 1991, with more cases reported in the past 18 months than the previous 25 years combined, despite the disease being declared eliminated in 2000.
• The resurgence is largely attributed to low vaccination rates, with over 90% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, leading to persistent and widespread outbreaks across most states.
• The South Carolina outbreak, centered in Spartanburg County, became the largest in decades with nearly 1,000 cases, highlighting challenges in contact tracing and community response, though high vaccination rates in some groups helped limit spread.
• Public health departments face significant resource strains managing measles outbreaks, as contact tracing and containment efforts are labor-intensive and complicated by funding cuts, raising concerns about handling concurrent public health threats.
• States like Virginia and Pennsylvania are employing community outreach, mobile vaccination clinics, and public advisories to increase vaccination coverage and control outbreaks, emphasizing that maintaining at least 95% vaccination is critical to preventing measles spread.