U.S. measles cases in 2026 already exceed total from record-breaking 2025 year
The CDC reports 2,318 measles cases in the United States so far in 2026, surpassing the 2,289 cases recorded for the entire year of 2025.
The increase makes 2026 the worst measles year since 1991, driven by large outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona, with smaller clusters elsewhere.
Health officials note that vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% threshold needed to prevent spread, contributing to the resurgence.
International health bodies will meet in November to assess whether the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles‑free status, while underreporting remains a concern because some cases go untreated.
This writeup was produced by pharmadog from original reporting by STAT.
Original headline: “There are already more U.S. measles cases this year than in all of 2025”
read at STAT ↗
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