US measles cases hit 35-year high for second consecutive year

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that at least 2,318 measles cases have been confirmed in the United States through May 2026, exceeding the 2,300 cases documented in 2025 and representing the highest annual total since 1991. The disease, declared eliminated in 2000, has seen a surge with more cases in the past 18 months than in the preceding 25 years combined.

Most of the infections are among children who have not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the situation "a public health failure, and it’s avoidable."

Outbreaks have been reported in nearly every state, with 35 new clusters identified this year. South Carolina has experienced the largest single outbreak in decades, centered in Spartanburg County and accounting for nearly 1,000 cases before it was contained in April. In Virginia, a single outbreak in Buckingham County has produced more than 150 cases, prompting mobile vaccination teams and public education efforts. Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County has also seen over 100 cases, all among individuals lacking full MMR vaccination.

Public health officials say contact-tracing a single measles case can require weeks of intensive work. San Francisco’s communicable disease program noted that its staff were stretched thin after just two cases in April, and budget cuts have limited capacity to respond to multiple simultaneous threats.

Health departments are emphasizing vaccination as the primary defense. Virginia’s vaccine-preventable diseases coordinator highlighted that high overall coverage can mask local pockets of low immunity, and Pennsylvania has administered hundreds of MMR doses through pop-up clinics. Community outreach, mobile care teams, and advisories to avoid large gatherings are among the strategies being used to curb further spread.