CDC: Measles cases surpass 4,000 in 2026

CDC data show that 96% of cases are outbreak-associated, with adults accounting for 40% of cases, up from 29% in 2025.

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The CDC reported 4,080 confirmed US measles cases through October 8, 2026, surpassing the 2,289 cases reported in 2025.
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The 2026 total included 414 hospitalizations and 2 deaths; 10% of cases resulted in hospitalization, compared with 11% in 2025.
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In 2026, 96% of cases were outbreak-associated, and 95% occurred among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
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Adults aged 20 years and older accounted for 40% of 2026 cases, while children aged 5 to 19 years accounted for 42% and those younger than 5 years for 17%.
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MMR coverage among US kindergartners declined from 95.2% in 2019–2020 to 92.4% in 2025–2026, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk.

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