Key facts
- The U.S. CDC reported 3,134 confirmed measles cases in 2026.
- This is the highest annual total in over 35 years.
- 248 hospitalizations have been recorded, representing 8% of cases.
- About 94% of cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
- MMR vaccination rates have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 3,134 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, marking the highest annual total in more than 35 years. Of these cases, 3,118 were reported within 47 U.S. jurisdictions, while 16 involved international visitors. The agency has documented 38 new outbreaks this year. Measles-related hospitalizations currently stand at 248, representing 8% of all cases. The CDC is reviewing two measles-associated deaths reported by Pennsylvania on August 25, and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reportedly asked the CDC director to remove a reference to these deaths from the agency's online tally. Approximately 94% of the reported cases were among individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. This surge in measles cases over the past two years coincides with a steady decline in childhood MMR vaccination rates observed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The current 2026 tally surpasses all single-year totals since the major measles resurgence between 1989 and 1991, which saw over 55,000 infections and 123 deaths.