US measles cases top 4,588 in 2026, more than double 2025 total
CDC reports 178 new measles cases this week, bringing 2026's US total to 4,588 across at least 43 outbreaks, with Pennsylvania alone at 1,338 cases.
The story in focus
The CDC reported 178 new US measles cases this week, bringing the 2026 total to 4,588 across at least 43 outbreaks, more than double the 2025 tally. Pennsylvania reported 1,338 cases, while South Carolina and Utah each reported more than 500, The Guardian said.
- CDC data show 4,588 US measles cases in 2026 as of Friday, more than double the 2025 tally.
- Pennsylvania alone reported 1,338 cases; South Carolina and Utah each reported more than 500.
- At least 43 outbreaks are reported; official counts are considered an undercount.
- Pennsylvania reports five measles-associated deaths and is investigating a sixth; the CDC has reported three nationally without specifying where the third occurred.
- HHS announced changes to the VAERS vaccine injury reporting system, including allowing doctors to bill for reporting suspected injuries.
Case counts and outbreaks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an additional 178 measles cases in the US this week, according to The Guardian, with the 2026 national total reaching 4,588 as of Friday across at least 43 outbreaks. That is more than double the tally for 2025.
Pennsylvania, described as having the worst outbreak in the nation for months, reported 1,338 cases on the same day. South Carolina and Utah each reported more than 500 cases. The Guardian said official tallies undercount the disease because its early symptoms may not prompt people to seek care.
Deaths and transparency criticism
Pennsylvania authorities have reported five measles-associated deaths and are investigating a sixth, The Guardian reported. The CDC has reported three measles deaths nationally but has declined to say where the third occurred, leaving unclear whether it counts a Pennsylvania death.
The Guardian, citing Reuters, reported that Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr asked senior CDC officials in September to remove a measles death from the official tally after questioning whether the disease contributed to it. Experts have criticized the agency for a lack of transparency.
Vaccine reporting changes
HHS this week announced changes to the vaccine adverse event reporting system, known as VAERS, including a proposal allowing doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. The Guardian described VAERS as useful to researchers tracking rare safety issues but also a source of misinformation for anti-vaccine activists.
How many US measles cases has the CDC reported for 2026?
The CDC reported 4,588 US measles cases in 2026 as of Friday, an increase of 178 that week, across at least 43 outbreaks. That is more than double the 2025 tally, The Guardian reported.
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