As of mid-August 2026, the United States has reported a staggering increase in measles cases, marking the highest incidence in over three decades. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of confirmed cases has already surpassed the total for all of 2025, which itself was a record year with over 2,200 cases.
Recent Outbreaks and Fatalities
On August 25, Pennsylvania’s health department announced the state’s first measles-related deaths in 35 years, occurring in Lancaster County. Both individuals who died were unvaccinated, underscoring the severe risks associated with the disease.
Measles: A Highly Contagious Disease
Measles is recognized as one of the most contagious infectious diseases, capable of causing serious complications such as severe lung infections, brain damage, and even death. Fortunately, vaccination has proven to be a safe and effective means of prevention.
Tracking the Outbreak
The CBS News data team has been actively monitoring confirmed measles cases across the nation, with the latest figures indicating that the ongoing outbreaks could jeopardize the U.S.’s official measles elimination status, which has been in place since 2000.
In 2025, over 750 of the confirmed cases were linked to an outbreak in West Texas that resulted in the deaths of two children. Prior to 2025, the highest number of cases recorded in recent years was 1,274 in 2019, primarily due to outbreaks in New York, California, and Washington state.
Declining Vaccination Rates
Health experts attribute the resurgence of measles and other preventable diseases to declining vaccination rates. The CDC reports that approximately 92.4% of kindergartners received their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations during the 2025-2026 school year, a slight decrease from 92.5% the previous year. This figure has dropped significantly from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year, which is considered the critical threshold for community immunity.
Only ten states achieved the 95% vaccination threshold last year. In Lancaster County, where the recent deaths occurred, the vaccination rate was notably lower at just 87.6%.
Expert Opinions on Vaccination
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, emphasized the importance of vaccinations for children, particularly for measles and other standard childhood vaccines. He stated, «It’s very important that parents vaccinate their kids.»
Research has consistently shown no correlation between vaccinations and increased rates of autism, and vaccines undergo rigorous safety testing to ensure their efficacy.
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