US Measles Cases Top Last Year by July, Reach 35-Year High
Confirmed measles cases in the United States have surpassed 2,318 as of July 2026, exceeding last year's total and marking the highest number in 35 years. The majority of cases are in unvaccinated individuals.
The United States has recorded 2,318 confirmed cases of measles so far in 2026, a figure that has already eclipsed the total for the previous year and represents the highest count in 35 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2,289 cases for all of 2025. With over five months remaining in the year, the total is expected to climb further.
The current caseload of 2,318 is the highest since 1991, when 9,643 cases were reported. The majority of the 2026 cases, 2,302, have occurred across 45 U.S. jurisdictions. An additional 16 cases involve international visitors. The states most affected include South Carolina with 670 confirmed infections and Utah with 522.
Crucially, 93 percent of this year's cases have been reported in individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus, spread through droplets in the air or by touching contaminated surfaces. The illness is preventable with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Public health experts express concern that declining vaccination rates, which have fallen below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity, could lead to the U.S. losing its measles elimination status, achieved in 2000. Kindergarten vaccination coverage has dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% in 2024-2025.