US measles cases approach 3,300—over 1,000 more than all of last year
Jim Wappes
Today at 2:00 p.m.
Heather Hazzan / Self magazine
The number of confirmed US cases of measles has reached 3,294, fully 1,000 more than all of last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted in its weekly update today. The total includes 160 new cases, most of them in Pennsylvania, the nation’s measles hot spot. The country has now seen five straight weeks of triple-digit increases.Of note, the CDC still has not recorded any deaths for 2026, instead indicating with an asterisk, “The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) does not currently have any death records from 2026 that indicate measles is the underlying cause.” This despite the coroner in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a week ago confirming that measles caused a death in an infant. Earlier, he had said the death of another baby infected with the disease in the county was “measles-related.”Last year, the CDC confirmed that three people, including two children, died of measles, one of the most transmissible diseases known.The CDC noted 38 outbreaks, the same as the prior week. Last year saw 48 measles outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases. Total cases for all of 2025 reached 2,289, which was the most since 1991 until the country surpassed that level in July. All but 16 of this year’s cases have been locally acquired, with the rest tied to international travel. Cases have been confirmed in 45 states plus New York City and Washington, DC.Of the 2026 cases, 18% involve children younger than 5 years, and 63% involve kids and teens. Eight percent of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025. Among all measles patients, 95% are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. Pennsylvania has most infections of any state in 2026In an update today, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) added 52 cases in just two days, bringing the state’s 2026 total to 676. The state has now topped South Carolina for the hardest-hit state in 2026.The CDC’s measles map lists 670 infections this year in South Carolina, though its outbreak—which totaled 997 cases for 2025 and 2026—was declared over on April 27. Utah is listed third on the CDC map, with 526 cases, followed by Texas (192; one new), Virginia (178), and Wisconsin (157; 45 new).The vaccine is 97 percent effective at preventing measles after two doses.Pennsylvania officials have confirmed 108 measles cases in the past seven days. Of the total, more than 99% of measles cases involve unvaccinated or undervaccinated people. Of the 676 patients, 124 (18%) have required hospitalization. As opposed to the national trend, 70% of those infected have been adults.Reporting by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette indicates the true number of cases in the state, however, is much larger. Many people don’t report their cases or consult healthcare professionals.The DOH said, “Getting vaccinated is the best protection against the measles virus; the vaccine is 97 percent effective at preventing measles after two doses.”Wisconsin cases reach 163As noted in the data from the CDC map, cases in Wisconsin are also ramping up. In an update today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) confirmed 163 cases across the state so far this year. Four cases are new since September 8.The DHS noted that 155 confirmed and six probable cases so far in 2026 are in an outbreak in Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties in southwestern Wisconsin.The DHS said, “The ongoing investigation indicates that measles is spreading locally. At this time, the investigation has not identified locations in public settings for which a full list of exposed people cannot be obtained.”Ohio this week confirmed 11 new cases, 133 total. In good news, Utah, which was a measles hot spot earlier this year, has gone more than three weeks without a confirmed case. Its case count stands at 518.
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