The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that measles cases in the United States have reached a 35-year high, with 2,318 confirmed cases so far in 2026. That already surpasses the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025, which itself had been the worst year for measles since 1991 — and there are still several months left in the year.
Who’s getting sick
According to the CDC, 93% of this year’s cases are in people who are unvaccinated. The surge comes amid a decades-long decline in childhood vaccination rates across the country.
Where outbreaks are concentrated
South Carolina leads the country with 670 reported cases, followed by Utah with 518 and Texas with 182. Health officials have tracked 35 new outbreaks so far this year.
Hospitalizations and outcomes
About 6% of patients, or 146 people, have been hospitalized this year. No measles deaths have been reported in 2026, compared with three deaths recorded in 2025.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
