'World's most contagious disease' on track for highest US cases in 35 years

Key Points:

• Measles cases in the US are set to surpass the 2025 record of 2,288 cases, reaching the highest levels in 35 years, with 2026 expected to be even worse if transmission is not quickly interrupted.
• The majority of cases (93%) are among unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status individuals, with over half occurring in children aged 5 to 19, highlighting declining vaccination rates as a key factor.
• Measles is highly contagious, spreading through airborne particles and causing severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death, especially in young children and vulnerable populations.
• Outbreaks are widespread, with Utah and South Carolina reporting the most cases, partly due to vaccination rates far below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.
• Experts emphasize that measles elimination requires sustained high vaccination coverage, rapid outbreak detection, and strong public health responses, but the situation is recoverable with renewed efforts to restore control.