U.S. Measles Cases Surpass All of 2025, CDC Data Show
Confirmed measles cases in the United States have already surpassed the total recorded during all of 2025, with more than five months remaining in 2026.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update published July 24 said 2,318 confirmed cases had been reported as of July 23. That compares with 2,289 confirmed cases for the full year of 2025.
The 2026 figure is preliminary and can change as jurisdictions update their records. Still, the increase is a significant public-health warning because measles is highly contagious and can spread quickly in communities where vaccination coverage is below the level needed for broad protection.
Outbreaks are driving most reported cases
CDC counted 35 new measles outbreaks in 2026. The agency said 93% of confirmed 2026 cases were associated with outbreaks, including outbreaks that began in 2025 and continued into this year.
Associated Press reporting identified major outbreak activity in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona, along with smaller clusters in other states. The national count does not mean every community faces the same level of risk. Local conditions, travel-related introductions and vaccination coverage vary widely.
Why the official count may be a floor
CDC’s national total includes confirmed cases reported by state, local, tribal and territorial health departments. The agency says it is aware of probable cases reported by jurisdictions, but those cases are not included until confirmed and notified to CDC.
That means the reported number is best understood as a documented minimum rather than a complete count of every infection. Some people may not seek medical care, may not be tested or may not be connected to public-health reporting. Hospitalization figures also cannot provide a complete measure of infections because not every person with measles is hospitalized.
What wastewater monitoring can add
CDC uses wastewater monitoring as a supplemental community-level signal. The CDC wastewater program is updated each Friday with data from the previous week and can detect measles virus from infected people, including some who have not sought clinical care.
A wastewater detection does not equal a confirmed case or prove that active transmission is occurring at a specific site. It indicates that people who currently have or recently had measles may be present in the community. CDC also cautions that infections can exist even when no measles is detected in wastewater.
Who faces the greatest concern
CDC identifies children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems as groups more likely to experience complications. Serious complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, according to CDC health guidance.
For families and adults, CDC vaccination guidance recommends two MMR vaccine doses for children, generally at 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years. Adults should have at least one documented dose, while some higher-risk adults need two. Anyone who may have been exposed or develops a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes or a spreading rash should call a health-care provider promptly before arriving at a clinic.
CDC says MMR coverage among U.S. kindergartners fell from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year to 92.5% in 2024-25. That is below the roughly 95% level associated with community protection. Health officials will continue watching confirmed cases, new outbreaks, vaccination coverage and wastewater trends, with an international review of U.S. measles-elimination status expected in November.
Sources
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