US Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High, Exceed 5,000 In 2026
U.S. measles cases have reached a 35-year high in 2026, with over 5,000 confirmed infections and eight deaths reported. Experts attribute the resurgence to declining vaccination rates and public distrust, with some criticism directed at Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.'s stance on vaccines.
Why it matters
The return of a preventable disease highlights the significant public health risks associated with vaccine hesitancy and political rhetoric.
The United States has recorded more than 5,000 cases of measles this year, the highest number in 35 years, according to an official count released Friday. So far in 2026, 5,182 confirmed cases of the highly contagious but highly preventable disease have been reported across the country, according to the......
The United States has recorded more than 5,000 cases of measles this year, the highest number in 35 years, according to an official count released Friday.
So far in 2026, 5,182 confirmed cases of the highly contagious but highly preventable disease have been reported across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s leading public health agency.
That compares with 2,289 cases during all of 2025, and is the highest level recorded by the CDC since 1991.
State health officials have reported at least eight measles-related deaths, including among very young children.
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