How many measles cases are there in the US?
Updated monthly
As of February 14, 2026, 982 cases have been confirmed in 2026, 4% of which required hospitalization. There were no reported deaths.
For context, there were 2281 confirmed measles cases in all of 2025, with an 11% hospitalization rate. There were 3 reported deaths. This was the highest annual case count since the US declared measles eliminated in 2000.
982
measles cases confirmed in 2026 (as of February 14, 2026)
2.28K
measles cases confirmed in all of 2025
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It’s been rare in the US, but some people are infected every year—often when they’re exposed while traveling internationally. The most common symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash. Though, measles can lead to serious health complications, especially in young children and people with weakened immune systems. So far in 2026, 84% of patients were 19 years old or younger.
Measles cases in the first 7 weeks of 2026 were up 762% compared to the same period in 2025
Weekly confirmed measles cases in the US
Before a measles vaccine became available in 1963, an estimated 3 to 4 million people were infected each year, though far fewer cases were officially reported. Around 400 to 500 people died annually. Widespread vaccination led to a sharp decline in cases and measles was declared “eliminated” in the US (meaning it was no longer spreading continuously within the country) by 2000.
Elimination doesn’t mean zero new infections, and there were 85 reported measles cases in 2000. But that was 99.9% fewer than in 1958—five years before the vaccine’s release—when there were more than 763,000 reported cases.
Since then, annual case numbers have remained low overall, though they vary from year to year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination still plays a role in preventing the spread of measles. Of those with cases confirmed in 2026 as of through February 14, 94% were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
So far, 2026 has had 11.6 times more confirmed measles cases than all of 2000
Annual confirmed measles cases, 2026 YTD through February 14, 2026
Measles case counts also vary by state. Some states report no cases, while others experience outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases in a specific area. In 2026, so far, there have been 9 outbreaks, linked to about 89% of reported cases. According to the CDC, outbreaks are more likely in communities with lower measles vaccination coverage. Vaccination rates and population density can influence how easily the virus spreads once it’s introduced.
So far, 500+ measles cases in 2026 have been in South Carolina, the most of any state
Annual confirmed measles cases, January 1 - February 14, 2026
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
