The U.S. measles case count for 2026 has surpassed last year's total, reaching 2,295 cases, the highest level in 35 years, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University that compiles state and local health data. The increase indicates a resurgence of the virus in areas with low vaccination coverage, which poses a risk to the United States' measles elimination status, set for review in November.
Most cases are reported among unvaccinated individuals. While overall vaccination rates remain relatively high, public health officials emphasize that rates must stay above 95% to ensure herd immunity. As of July 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 2,260 cases and reported 34 new outbreaks this year. The last significant spike in measles cases occurred in 1991, with 9,643 reported cases.
Measles symptoms include cough, high fever, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic rash, which can lead to severe complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis. On average, measles results in fatalities for one to three out of every 1,000 infected children. The current rise in cases coincides with several key government health positions remaining unfilled, including the CDC director and surgeon general, and follows Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s previous minimization of the virus's threat. He has since acknowledged that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective prevention method, while reiterating that vaccination is a personal choice.