Overview
- The CDC reported 2,318 confirmed U.S. measles cases as of July 23, 2026, surpassing all of 2025 and marking the highest annual total since 1991.
- Roughly 93% of cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, and 35 new outbreaks have been recorded so far in 2026.
- Outbreaks are concentrated in a handful of states with big increases in South Carolina and Utah while some 2025 hotspots such as Texas have declined.
- There have been 151 hospitalizations this year including dozens of young children, and state responses have reported multi‑million dollar costs that are stressing local public health capacity.
- The U.S. lost continuous domestic transmission control in 2000 when measles was declared eliminated and experts say restoring 95% MMR coverage and bolstering public‑health staffing are needed to prevent further spread and possible loss of that designation.