The United States has recorded 2,318 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of July 23. Utah is among 45 jurisdictions reporting infections during a year that has seen 35 new outbreaks across the country.
Rising Case Counts and Demographics
Of the total cases reported through July 23, 2026, approximately 93% are associated with outbreaks. The CDC reported that 2,153 of these cases stem from outbreaks that began either in 2025 or 2026.
Demographic data shows that children and adolescents remain heavily impacted by the virus. Specifically, 456 individuals under the age of five account for 20% of the 2026 cases, while those aged 5 to 19 represent 49% of the total infections.
Vaccination Gaps and Risks
Vaccination status remains a primary factor in recent transmission. According to CDC data, 93% of the 2,318 confirmed cases in 2026 involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
The risk is compounded by declining immunization rates in schools. The CDC noted that MMR vaccine coverage among U.S. kindergartners fell from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% for the 2024-2025 school year, leaving hundreds of thousands of children vulnerable to infection.
Impact of Previous Outbreaks
The current surge in cases follows a period of significant outbreaks, including a large-scale event in West Texas. A CDC report from May 2026 detailed an outbreak in the South Plains region that occurred between January 20 and March 18, 2025.
During that Texas outbreak, 325 cases were confirmed, with 60 patients requiring hospitalization. Medical records for hospitalized patients showed severe complications, including pneumonia in 72.2% of cases and the need for supplemental oxygen in 70.4% of those admitted.
Review of Elimination Status
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced that a formal review of the measles elimination status for the United States and Mexico will take place in November 2026. This review is scheduled during the annual meeting of the Regional Verification Commission.
The assessment follows the loss of regional status as being free of endemic measles transmission in November 2025, after the virus was found to be circulating uninterrupted for at least 12 months in Canada.
Ongoing Surveillance Efforts
For the United States, the analysis period for assessing if endemic transmission has been re-established begins from the onset of reported outbreaks, specifically January 20, 2025. Health authorities are utilizing viral genome sequencing and bioinformatics platforms to support ongoing outbreak control efforts.
