How many measles cases are there in the US?

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As of September 24, 2026, 3,659 cases have been confirmed in 2026, 9% of which required hospitalization. There’s been one confirmed death. The CDC is investigating three other deaths reported in Pennsylvania to determine the role of measles in those deaths. This is the highest annual case count since the US declared measles eliminated in 2000.

For context, there were 2289 confirmed measles cases in all of 2025, with a 11% hospitalization rate. There were 3 reported deaths.

3.66K

measles cases confirmed in 2026 (as of September 24, 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, 61% of patients were 19 years old or younger.

Measles cases in the first 39 weeks of 2026 were up 146% compared to the same period in 2025

Weekly confirmed measles cases in the US, January 2, 2022 to September 24, 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.

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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 September 24, 95% were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.

So far, 2026 has had 43.0 times more confirmed measles cases than all of 2000

Annual confirmed measles cases, 2026 YTD through September 24, 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 40 outbreaks, linked to about 95% 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, 3 states have reported 500+ measles cases in 2026

Annual confirmed measles cases, January 1 - September 24, 2026

Annual confirmed measles cases, by state (January 1 - September 24, 2026)

Annual confirmed measles cases, by state (January 1 - September 24, 2026)
StateCases

Pennsylvania 

850

South Carolina

670

Utah 

535

Texas 

192

Virginia 

178

Wisconsin 

164

Florida 

148

Ohio 

134

Arizona 

110

New York

69

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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.