This article was originally posted on Jun 15, 2026. Additional updates will be posted as they become available.
US Measles Total Tops 2,300 — The Most in 35 Years
Jun 24, 2026, 2:00pm ET
Confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026 have reached 2,318, surpassing the 2025’s total of 2,289 cases in less than 8 months. The 2026 total is the most in 35 years, since 9,643 cases were reported in 1991.
Historical Data
The 2026 total now surpasses 2025 as the eighth worst in US history since 1985.
2026 currently sits just 504 cases behind 1985 for the seventh most cases, with current reporting rates suggesting it will surpass that number before end of year.
The measles virus was declared “eliminated” in the United States in the year 2000.
2026 Data
According July 23 data from the CDC, 2,302 measles cases have been reported in 44 states plus 16 cases reported among international visitors to the United States.
The agency reports that there have been 35 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and 93% of confirmed cases (2,153 of 2,318) are outbreak-associated.
The majority of 2026 cases have occurred in South Carolina and Utah, which have reported totals of 670
(SC) and 522 (UT) respectively. South Carolina declared its 2025-26 state outbreak “ended” on April 27, 2026 with 997 infections, 21 hospitalizations, and zero related deaths.
Infectious disease experts lamented the milestone.
“This is a grim milestone and one that could have been avoided, as we have a safe and highly effective measles vaccine that is widely available in the United States,” said William Moss, MD, MPH, is a professor in the departments of Epidemiology; International Health; and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “It is tragic that misinformation about the vaccine is getting in the way of keeping people safe.”
US Cases in 2026: 2,318 total cases (as of Jul 23, 2026)
| Under 5 years | 5-19 years | 20+ years | Age unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 456 (20%) | 1,141 (49%) | 709 (31%) | 12 (<1%) |
Vaccination Status
| Unvaccinated or Unknown | One MMR dose | Two MMR doses |
|---|---|---|
| 93% | 3% | 4% |
US Hospitalizations in 2026: 7% of cases hospitalized (151 of 2,318 cases)
| Under 5 years | 5-19 years | 20+ years | Age unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% (45 of 456) | 3% (38 of 1,141) | 10% (68 of 709) | 0% (0 of 12) |
US Measles Total Breaks 2,000 Cases for the Year
Jun 15, 2026, 2:00pm ET
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 2,073 confirmed measles cases in 2026, according to a June 12 update by the agency.
A total of 2,063 cases have been reported in 39 states, plus 10 cases reported among international visitors to the US, the CDC says.
There have been 30 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and 93% of confirmed cases (1,929 of 2,073) are outbreak-associated, according to the CDC.
The 2026 total is approaching 2025’s total of 2,288 confirmed infections, which was the most US cases in 34 years (1991).
The majority of 2026 cases have occurred in South Carolina, which declared its state outbreak “ended” on April 27, 2026 with 997 infections, 21 hospitalizations, and zero related deaths.
US Cases in 2026: 2,073 total cases (as of Jun 12, 2026)
| Under 5 years | 5-19 years | 20+ years | Age unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 428 (21%) | 1,050 (51%) | 589 (28%) | 6 (<1%) |
Vaccination Status
| Unvaccinated or Unknown | One MMR dose | Two MMR doses |
|---|---|---|
| 92% | 4% | 4% |
US Hospitalizations in 2026: 6% of cases hospitalized (128 of 2,073 cases)
| Under 5 years | 5-19 years | 20+ years | Age unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% (42 of 428) | 3% (34 of 1,050) | 9% (52 of 589) | 0% (0 of 6) |
