The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported this week that measles rates in the United States have reached a 35-year high, with 2,318 cases logged in the first seven months of 2026. This figure surpasses the total of 2,289 cases recorded in the same period last year. Officials indicated that 2026 could be the worst year for measles since 1991, attributing the rise in cases to decreased vaccination rates and suggesting that actual numbers may be higher than reported.
The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to conduct an international review of the U.S.'s measles elimination status in November. The U.S. has maintained this status since 2000, but recent outbreaks may jeopardize it, prompting the Trump administration to request a postponement of the review from April to the fall.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, stated, "We remain committed to actively supporting current outbreak responses through laboratory testing, technical assistance, and close coordination with state and local partners."
The states with the highest number of measles cases include South Carolina with 670 cases, Utah with 518, Texas with 182, Virginia with 176, and Florida with 141. This marks a shift from 2025, when Texas had the highest number of cases at 803.
Among the 48 states with available data, Idaho reported the lowest vaccination rate for measles at 78.5%, with three cases this year. New outbreaks have also been reported in Pennsylvania, where 132 cases have been confirmed, including 27 in the past week. Virginia's outbreak appears to be slowing, with no new cases reported since July 4.
In Utah, health officials estimate that an outbreak on the Utah-Arizona border could be three to four times larger than currently known, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and temporary white spots on the skin known as Koplik spots. Dr. Brannon Traxler, acting director of the South Carolina Department of Health, noted that the actual number of cases could be underestimated, stating that the extent of undercounting is difficult to determine and may fluctuate during an outbreak.