The United States has recorded 5,182 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, the highest number reported by the CDC since 1991, according to an Al Jazeera report on CDC data.
Key numbers
- 5,182 confirmed cases in 2026, more than double the 2,289 reported in 2025.
- 4,993 cases were linked to outbreaks.
- Children under 5 make up 18% of cases and those aged 5 to 19 make up 41%, so children and teenagers are about 59% together.
- The CDC reports four measles deaths this year.
Vaccination rates
Kindergarten vaccination coverage fell from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025-2026, as per the report.
Dispute over deaths
Pennsylvania, the state hardest hit, reports 1,487 cases and six deaths, higher than the CDC’s national death count. The state counts a death as measles-associated if a confirmed case dies within 30 days of developing symptoms, unless an unrelated event caused it. The CDC first included two unvaccinated people from Pennsylvania in its tally in August, then removed them after US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioned whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths. The CDC says it is working with state epidemiologists on a standard definition.
Why it matters
The US declared measles eliminated more than two decades ago. Measles cases have also risen around the world, especially in communities with low vaccination or limited healthcare access. Doctors advise checking that children have received the MMR vaccine on schedule.
Source: Al Jazeera reporting on CDC data. Image: file photo of an MMR vaccine syringe. Photo: U.S. Navy, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
