US measles cases exceed 5,000 in 2026, reaching their highest level in 35 years
The United States has recorded over 5,000 measles cases in 2026, the highest number in 35 years, prompting concerns from health officials. The surge is attributed to declining vaccination rates and public distrust, with critics pointing to the rhetoric of US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Why it matters
The resurgence of a preventable disease highlights a significant public health crisis and the impact of political discourse on medical compliance.
A total of 5,182 confirmed cases of the highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease have been reported nationwide in 2026, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country's leading public health agency.The figure is more than double the 2,289 cases recorded throughout 2025 and represents the highest number reported by the CDC since 1991.State health authorities have reported at least eight measles-related deaths, including among very young children.Measles deaths raise alarm among doctorsPaediatric infectious disease specialist Adam Ratner told AFP that such fatalities were “tragic, and that is completely preventable”.Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, largely as a result of widespread vaccination.
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