US measles cases exceed 5,000 with deaths reported in three states
The CDC reports more than 5,000 measles cases across 45 states and Washington, D.C., and eight deaths linked to the disease in 2026.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 5,182 measles cases have been confirmed in the United States this year, spanning 45 states and Washington, D.C. Eighteen of the cases involved international visitors.
Eight measles-related deaths have been recorded so far in 2026: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin. The New York State Department of Health noted the state's first measles death in more than three decades, while Pennsylvania and Wisconsin confirmed deaths among an unvaccinated adult and an infant, respectively.
The CDC indicated that the death toll is "subject to change" as investigations continue. Approximately 96% of the cases involve individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown; 2% have received one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and another 2% have received the recommended two doses.
A plurality of infections occurred among people aged 5 to 19, and about 11% of cases required hospitalization, including more than one in ten children under five. The agency continues to advise two doses of MMR vaccine—first at 12 to 15 months and the second between ages 4 and 6—to achieve 97% effectiveness. Recent school-year data show that 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine, down from 95.2% before the COVID-19 pandemic.