US measles cases reach 35-year high, CDC reports
The CDC says 2,318 measles cases have been confirmed in the United States so far in 2026, surpassing the previous year's total.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 2,318 measles cases have been confirmed in the United States through July 2026, exceeding the 2,289 cases recorded in 2025. The increase comes amid ongoing concerns about vaccine uptake.
Public health officials note that the country could face a review of its measles-elimination status, a designation lost by Canada last year after sustained transmission of the virus.
Recent outbreaks have been identified in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Utah, while a 2025 outbreak among a Mennonite community in Texas resulted in two child deaths and one adult death in neighboring New Mexico.
The CDC emphasizes that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, administered in two doses to children aged one to six, is about 97% effective. Achieving herd immunity requires roughly 95% vaccination coverage, a threshold that has fallen short in several regions.
"The MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles," said a spokesperson for the health agency.
A federal judge recently blocked proposed changes to the childhood immunisation schedule that would have reduced the number of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11.