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HealthUS measles outbreak hits 35-year high with 2,318 cases in 7 months
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The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, with 2,318 confirmed cases recorded in just seven months of 2026, according to CDC data. This surpasses the 2025 total of 2,289 cases, which included three deaths, two of them young children. Measles was declared eradicated in the US in 2000 due to widespread vaccination, but declining vaccination rates and growing distrust in health authorities have fueled a resurgence. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has been accused of contributing to the crisis by spreading anti-vaccine sentiment. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the outbreak an 'avoidable crisis' that disproportionately harms children. The last time case numbers were this high was in 1991, before a two-dose vaccine regimen became standard.
Source report
Since the beginning of 2026, the United States has recorded its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, according to official figures released Friday. The sharp rise in cases comes as vaccine hesitancy continues to grow.
Key Data
- 2,318 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded in just seven months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- This surpasses the total for 2025, which had already shattered records with 2,289 cases and three deaths, including two young children.
Health Experts Respond
"We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionally hurts children," said Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "We should not accept this as our new normal."
About Measles
Measles causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and skin rashes. In some cases, it can also lead to more severe complications, including:
- Pneumonia
- Brain inflammation
These complications can lead to serious long-term impacts and death.
Historical Context
- In 2000, measles was declared eradicated in the United States, thanks to vaccination.
- The last time the US experienced such a high number of cases was in 1991, when 9,643 cases were recorded.
- Cases began falling dramatically after a two-dose vaccine regimen became the norm.
- Prior to the development of a measles vaccine in the early 1960s, measles killed hundreds of children annually in the US.
- The disease continues to claim tens of thousands of lives worldwide each year.
Contributing Factors
Measles has made a strong comeback in recent years against a backdrop of:
- Declining vaccination rates
- Growing distrust in health authorities
US President Donald Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, is accused of contributing significantly to the crisis by spreading anti-vaccine sentiment and fueling fears of well-studied and proven immunizations.
Source
EuractivWestern
Part of this Story
US measles outbreak reaches highest case count in 35 years