CDC reports more than 5,000 measles cases, highest number in 35 years

The United States has recorded 5,182 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, the highest annual figure reported by the CDC since 1991. The rise matters because measles is highly contagious but preventable through vaccination, and the increase comes amid falling vaccination coverage among US kindergarteners.

Children and teenagers account for about 59 per cent of cases, while 4,993 cases were linked to outbreaks. The 2026 total is more than double the 2,289 cases recorded in 2025; the CDC reports four deaths, while Pennsylvania officials report six deaths and 1,487 cases in their state. The differing death totals have prompted a dispute over how measles-related deaths should be classified, and the CDC says it is working towards a standard definition.