US measles cases reach 35-year high, for second record-breaking year in a row

Measles has continued its historic resurgence in the United States this year, with a second record-breaking year in a row. Just over halfway through 2026, the country has recorded more cases than in any other year since 1991 — surpassing a grim milestone that was just topped last year. The disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but more cases have been recorded in the past 18 months than there have been in the previous 25 years combined. Dozens of new cases are reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each week, with new large outbreaks adding to others that have simmered since last year. "This essentially is a public health failure, and it's avoidable," said Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The total number of measles cases in 2026 has already surpassed last year's total, according to data posted by the CDC on Friday. At least 2,318 cases have been reported with more than five months left in the year. Most of the cases in 2026 have been associated with outbreaks that started last year — like in South Carolina, where the outbreak extended through late April. An outbreak along the Utah-Arizona state line has been simmering for more than a year. But there have also been 35 new outbreaks this year, and all but seven states have reported cases. The vast majority of cases — more than 90% — are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, CDC data shows. Experts say the potential for measles outbreaks remains anywhere vaccination rates remain below 95%, a key immunity threshold for the highly contagious disease.