U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 5,000, Spread Across 45 States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that measles cases in the United States have surpassed 5,000 this year, with at least 5,182 confirmed cases across 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Eight measles-associated deaths have been confirmed in 2026, with three of these deaths reported by state health officials this week. These include a child in upstate New York, an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and an infant in Wisconsin.

The CDC has confirmed four of the eight deaths so far, but noted the number may change. States with confirmed cases include all 48 contiguous states, plus Washington, D.C., and Wyoming.

According to the CDC, approximately 96% of cases are among individuals who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. About 2% of cases involve those who received one dose of the MMR vaccine, and 2% received the recommended two doses.

A plurality of cases have been recorded among individuals aged 5 to 19, with at least 11% of cases resulting in hospitalization. More than 1 in 10 children under 5 years old were hospitalized due to measles.

The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first at 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles. However, vaccination rates have declined in recent years, with 92.4% of kindergartners receiving the MMR vaccine during the 2025-26 school year, compared to 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year.