Measles surge hits new milestone as US cases surpass last year’s total

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Measleshas reemerged as a persistent public health challenge in the U.S.over the past two years — and the spread isn’t slowing down.

According to a Johns Hopkins University tracker that compiles local and statehealth data, there were 2,295 confirmed measles cases in the U.S.as of July 22.

This figure has officially surpassed the 2025 numbers, which totaled 2,286 measles cases nationwide.

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Cases have been reported across the country, but concentrated outbreaks have worsened in some areas of Pennsylvania,South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Utah, Texas and Arizona.In 2025, Texas had the largest outbreak, totaling 803 cases throughout the state.

Measles cases have officially surpassed 2025 numbers, which totaled 2,286 cases.The U.S.has reported 2,295 measles cases so far in 2026.(iStock)

In the latest CDC measles update on July 17, there were 34 newoutbreaksreported in 2026, compared to 48 outbreaks in 2025.Most cases were associated with local outbreaks, while some were linked to international visitors.

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Both this year and last year, 93% of all measles patients were either unvaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), or had an unknownvaccination status, data shows.

Most cases have occurred inchildrenand young adults between the ages of 5 and 19.There have been no deaths reported in 2026, according to the CDC, but there were three deaths in 2025.

A poster to spread Measles awareness offers symptoms to watch out for, facts about measles, and resources if someone may have it.

Most cases have occurred in children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 19.There have been no deaths reported in 2026, according to the CDC, but there were three deaths in 2025.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The rise in cases comes more than two decades after health agencies reported that the disease was eliminated in 2000.

Measles can be spread through direct contact withinfectious droplets, or can be airborne when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to health officials.The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Symptoms usually appear within a week or two, and may include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.

A few days later, flat, red spots appear on the face and then spread down the neck to the rest of the body.People are most contagious in the four days before and four days after the rash appears.

Community protection

Dr.

“Measles is so contagious that up to 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to an infected person will become infected,�“We need a 95% vaccine coverage rate to ensure herd immunity,” he said.

A paramedic administers a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb.27, 2025.(RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

The herd immunity threshold is a mathematical estimate based on how contagious a disease is and how effectively immunity from vaccination or prior infection prevents its spread, according to Siegel.