The United States has reached 2,316 confirmed measles cases in 2026, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on July 24, 2026. Utah is among the 45 jurisdictions that have reported confirmed cases of the disease so far this year.
National Outbreak Trends
Of the total national case count, 2,302 cases were reported by specific jurisdictions, which include Utah, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Additionally, the CDC reported that 16 measles cases were identified among international visitors to the United States.
The current year has seen 35 new outbreaks recorded in the U.S. The CDC noted that 93% of all confirmed cases—totaling 2,153 individuals—are associated with these outbreaks. This figure includes 782 cases from outbreaks that began in 2026 and 1,371 cases originating from outbreaks that started in 2025.
Demographics and Vaccination Status
Demographic data provided by the CDC highlights that children and adolescents represent a significant portion of the infected population. Specifically, 1,141 cases—or 49% of the total—occurred in individuals between the ages of 5 and 19 years. The under-5 age group accounted for 456 cases, representing 20% of the national total.
For those aged 20 and older, the CDC reported 709 cases, which is 31% of the year's total. A small fraction of the data, involving 12 individuals, listed an unknown age. The vaccination status across all groups remains a critical factor, with 93% of the 2,318 cases occurring in patients who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Only 3% of cases involved individuals who had received one dose of the MMR vaccine, and 4% involved those who had received two doses.
Hospitalization Statistics
Hospitalization rates vary by age group according to the July 24 CDC update. Among the 2,318 confirmed cases in 2026, 7%—representing 151 people—required hospitalization. The risk appears highest for the youngest patients, with 10% of those under 5 years old (45 out of 4 and 56) being hospitalized.
In contrast, hospitalization rates for the 5-19 age group were lower at 3%, involving 38 individuals. For adults aged 20 and older, the hospitalization rate was 10%, affecting 68 people. Notably, the CDC reported zero hospitalizations for cases where the age was unknown.
Year-over-year Comparison
Comparing 2026 data to the previous year shows a slight increase in total confirmed cases. In 2025, the United States reported a total of 2,289 confirmed measles cases. While the number of jurisdictions reporting cases remained consistent at 45, the 2025 totals included additional states such as Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, and Nevada.
The CDC noted that while there were 48 outbreaks in 2025, 90% of those cases were outbreak-associated. This represents a shift from 2024, when only 16 outbreaks were reported and 69% of the 285 cases were linked to outbreaks. Although the number of total cases has risen slightly in 2026, there have been no deaths recorded in the U.S. so far this year, compared to three deaths reported during the full year of 2025.
Utah Immunization Resources
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services maintains its own immunization resources and statistics, providing various reports on vaccination coverage for residents across all lifespans. The department offers specific immunization data for kindergarteners and 7th graders to track school-based coverage levels from the 2014/15 school year through the 2025/26 period.
In addition to school-aged data, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services provides specialized reports such as the 2025 Vaccines for Children report and a 2024 data sheet regarding HPV vaccination coverage among Utah adults. The department also manages immunization quality improvement activities and long-term care facility reporting.
Community Immunity Risks
The CDC has noted that while state health departments lead local investigations, the agency tracks national trends to monitor community immunity. The agency emphasized that vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has seen a decline from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.5% during the 2024–2025 school year, leaving roughly 286,000 children at risk of infection due to falling coverage levels.
