Health

CDC Tallies 5,182 Measles Cases in U.S., Highest Since 1991

By Al Jazeera Staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 5,182 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of 2026, the highest number recorded since 1991. Children and teenagers account for about 59 percent of the cases, with 18 percent in children under five and 41 percent in those aged five to 19. The majority of infections, 4,993 cases, were linked to outbreaks. Vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergarteners fell from 95.2 percent in the 2019‑2020 school year to 92.4 percent in the 2025‑2026 school year. The 2026 case count more than doubles the 2,289 cases reported in 2025.

According to CDC data, four deaths have been attributed to measles in 2026. However, state officials, especially in Pennsylvania—the hardest‑hit state—report a higher toll. Pennsylvania’s Department of Health recorded six deaths and 1,487 cases this year. The state uses a “measles‑associated” definition, counting a death if a person with confirmed measles dies within 30 days of symptom onset unless the death was caused by an unrelated event. In August, Pennsylvania reported two unvaccinated deaths from measles. The CDC initially included these deaths in its national total but later removed them after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioned whether measles had caused or contributed to the fatalities. The CDC is working with the U.S. Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to establish a standardized definition for measles deaths.

Infectious disease experts note that the dispute over death classification challenges the CDC’s long‑standing practice of tracking “measles‑associated” deaths, a method used by the World Health Organization and the CDC. The United States declared measles eliminated more than two decades ago, yet cases have risen globally, particularly in vaccine‑skeptical communities or areas with limited healthcare access. Experts warn that declining vaccination rates in one region can leave populations far away vulnerable, underscoring the need for shared global measles prevention efforts.