CDC Reports 5,182 Measles Cases, Highest Since 1991

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 5,182 measles cases in the United States as of November 5, the highest annual total since 1991. The count, released Friday, was 330 higher than the agency’s previous update and exceeded the full-year total of 2,289 cases in 2025. The CDC’s tally covers infections reported in 2026 and is the first above 5,000 since 1991, when the agency recorded 9,643 cases. The 2026 count remains below that earlier peak. The CDC said 43 outbreaks had been reported this year, and 4,993 cases, or 96% of the total, were linked to outbreaks. The agency reported 562 measles-related hospitalizations, about 11% of reported cases. People aged 20 and older accounted for 2,132 infections, while those aged 5 to 19 accounted for 2,104 and children under 5 for 908. The CDC said 96% of cases were among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. Deaths remain subject to different tallies. The CDC lists four measles-associated deaths in 2026 and says the number may change as reviews continue. State health departments have reported eight: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin. The CDC’s national figure is...