How many measles cases are there in the US?

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As of July 30, 2026, 2,371 cases have been confirmed in 2026, 7% of which required hospitalization. There were no reported deaths. This was the highest annual case count since the US declared measles eliminated in 2000.

For context, there were 2,289 confirmed measles cases in all of 2025, with a 11% hospitalization rate. There were 3 reported deaths.

2.37K

measles cases confirmed in 2026 (as of July 30, 2026)

2.29K

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, 69% of patients were 19 years old or younger.

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Measles cases in the first 31 weeks of 2026 were up 87% compared to the same period in 2025

Weekly confirmed measles cases in the US, January 2, 2022 to July 30, 2026

How has the measles rate changed over time?

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 through July 30, 93% were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.

So far, 2026 has had 27.9 times more confirmed measles cases than all of 2000

Annual confirmed measles cases, 2026 YTD through July 30, 2026

How do measles cases vary by state?

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 37 outbreaks, linked to about 94% 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, 2 states have reported 500+ measles cases in 2026

Annual confirmed measles cases, January 1 - July 30, 2026

Annual confirmed measles cases, by state (January 1 - July 30, 2026)

Annual confirmed measles cases, by state (January 1 - July 30, 2026)
StateCases

South Carolina

670

Utah 

524

Texas 

190

Virginia 

176

Pennsylvania 

167

Florida 

141

Arizona 

109

Washington state

53

California 

48

North Dakota

38

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

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.