US records 4,410 measles cases as outbreak grows
The CDC reports 4,410 measles cases in the US so far in 2026, with Pennsylvania experiencing the largest outbreak. Health officials are deploying federal resources and expanding vaccination efforts to contain the spread.
Why it matters
The significant rise in measles cases highlights ongoing public health challenges regarding vaccine uptake and the potential for infectious disease outbreaks in the US.
The CDC reports 451 hospitalisations nationwide as health officials expand vaccination efforts.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that children and teenagers make up the majority of new measles cases [File: Megan Varner/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 16 Oct 2026 16 Oct 2026 The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 4,410 measles cases so far in 2026, an increase of 330 in a week, and has dispatched an investigator to the state of Pennsylvania to help contain the country’s largest outbreak.
CDC figures also show 451 measles-related hospitalisations nationwide this year. Children and teenagers aged five to 19 account for 42 percent of cases, followed by adults aged 20 and older, who make up 41 percent. Seventeen percent of cases were among children under the age of five.
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