The United States has recorded 2,260 confirmed measles cases as of July 16, 2026, marking the highest level in 35 years. With more than five months remaining in the year, the country is poised to surpass the 2,289 cases reported throughout 2025, which itself was the largest outbreak in more than three decades. This surge signals a significant erosion of the nation’s 2000 measles elimination status, which had previously meant the disease was without continuous spread for at least 12 months.
The CDC reports 2,260 confirmed measles cases across 44 jurisdictions
A 35-Year Record and Persistent Outbreaks
Public health officials are grappling with a resurgent threat that many believed was effectively controlled. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2,260 confirmed cases reported as of July 16, 2026, occurred across 44 jurisdictions, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the 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, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Additionally, 15 cases were reported among international visitors.
The current situation is defined by persistent, overlapping outbreaks. The CDC reports there have been 34 new outbreaks in 2026, with 93% of confirmed cases (2,108 of 2,260) identified as outbreak-associated. This includes 741 cases from outbreaks starting in 2026 and 1,367 from outbreaks that began in 2025. For context, there were 48 outbreaks reported in 2025 and only 16 outbreaks reported during 2024.
Dr. William Schaffner and Dr. William Moss link resurgence to declining vaccine trust
The Erosion of Vaccine Coverage and Trust
The core of the crisis lies in a decline in vaccination rates. Data from the CDC shows that during the 2024-2025 school year, 92.5% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine, which is lower than the 92.7% reported in the previous school year. Public health specialists have told ABC News that the record-breaking numbers are linked to declining vaccination rates, a loss of trust in public health institutions, a perceived lack of clear guidance from officials, and a lack of public fear regarding the measles virus.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, characterized the situation to ABC News: “A world leading public health triumph, the elimination of measles in the United States, which was a beacon to the rest of the world, showing that this actually could be done, is eroding, and we are trying to turn back the clock as a society to the bad old days, I’m afraid.”
In a statement released through Johns Hopkins University on Newswise, Dr. William Moss, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, addressed the resurgence: “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. It is tragic that misinformation about the vaccine is getting in the way of keeping people safe.” Dr. Moss also noted that the measles virus has returned to communities due to an erosion of vaccine coverage, though he added in a 2018 paper published in the Oxford Academic that the protective efficacy of measles vaccines, while very high, is not as absolute as infection with wild-type virus.
Over 1,100 cases identified in children and teens aged 5 to 19
Clinical Context and Vaccination Status
The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles. CDC data indicates that 93% of all confirmed measles cases reported were in individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. Furthermore, the agency reports that more than 1,100 measles cases occurred in children and teens aged 5 to 19.
Historical data provided by the CDC offers context on the severity of the disease prior to the vaccine’s availability. In the decade before the measles vaccine, an estimated 3 to 4 million people in the U.S. were sickened annually, with approximately 48,000 hospitalizations and 400 to 500 deaths. Additionally, about 1,000 people suffered from encephalitis every year. The MMR vaccine became available in 1971, and by 1989, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommended a second dose for children.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices mandates two-dose MMR schedule
Readers should be aware that the CDC only includes confirmed cases in its reporting that have been notified by jurisdictions, even though the agency is aware of additional probable cases. Because the situation is evolving, individuals concerned about their immunity or the current risk in their area should consult with a qualified healthcare professional or their local public health department for the most accurate, localized guidance.
Sources: Washingtonpost, cdc.gov.
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