The United States has reported 4,080 confirmed measles cases in 2026, including 414 hospitalizations and 2 deaths, according to a recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Of the confirmed cases, 96% were outbreak-associated, and 95% occurred among individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, up 2% from the year before.
The national total, reflecting cases reported through October 8, has surpassed the 2,289 confirmed cases recorded in 2025. The CDC reported 42 new outbreaks in 2026, defined as 3 or more related cases. Of the 3,897 outbreak-associated cases, 2,513 were linked to outbreaks that began in 2026, while 1,384 were associated with outbreaks that began in 2025. By comparison, 90% of cases were outbreak-associated in 2025.
Adults aged 20 years and older accounted for 40% of confirmed cases in 2026 (1,635 of 4,080), compared with 29% in 2025 (674 of 2,289). Children aged 5 to 19 years accounted for 42% of cases (1,716), while children younger than 5 years accounted for 17% (710).
Hospitalizations totaled 414 in 2026, compared with 244 in 2025, although the overall proportion of cases resulting in hospitalization decreased from 11% to 10%. Children younger than 5 years had the highest age-specific hospitalization proportion at 15% (107 of 710). Among adults aged 20 years and older, 14% (229 of 1,635) were hospitalized, compared with 12% (80 of 674) in 2025. Among children aged 5 to 19 years, 5% (78 of 1,716) were hospitalized.
The CDC classified 95% of cases as occurring among individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, compared with 93% in 2025. The agency combines these categories in national surveillance reporting because vaccination documentation may be unavailable.
Therefore, the percentage should not be interpreted as representing only individuals confirmed to be unvaccinated.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage among US kindergartners declined from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4% during the 2025–2026 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk. The CDC noted that local vaccination coverage can vary considerably, with pockets of unvaccinated individuals persisting even in states with high overall coverage.
The CDC reported that 2 doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, compared with 93% effectiveness after 1 dose. Breakthrough infections remain uncommon but can occur, particularly in communities experiencing outbreaks.
The surveillance figures include confirmed cases reported by US jurisdictions and international visitors. Probable cases are excluded, and 2026 totals remain preliminary and subject to revision.
Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles Cases and Outbreaks. Updated October 9, 2026. CDC measles surveillance data.
