US measles cases rise to 2,295, highest since 1991

The United States has recorded 2,295 measles cases so far in 2026, surpassing last year’s annual total and marking the highest number of infections since 1991. With nearly five months remaining in the year, public health officials warn the country is at imminent risk of losing its measles elimination status, which it has held since 2000.

The case count, compiled by Johns Hopkins University and exceeding the 2,289 cases documented for all of 2025, reflects sustained, widespread transmission. Almost all reported infections are among individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. The largest outbreaks this year have been centered in South Carolina and Utah, with cases reported in more than 40 states and the District of Columbia.

Health experts directly link the surge to declining vaccination coverage. Measles is so contagious that a community vaccination rate of at least 95 percent is required to achieve herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. National data shows a multi-year decline in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates among children, with specific communities falling well below the critical threshold. Epidemiologist William Moss of the...