Measles Surge in the United States Hits Three-Decade High Amid Declining Vaccination Rates

• As of August 13, the CDC recorded 2,566 confirmed measles cases and 38 new outbreaks across 47 states or territories.

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• 94 % of cases occurred in people who were unvaccinated or whose status was unknown.

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• The highest case counts were reported in South Carolina, Utah, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Florida and Arizona (109).

Measles surpasses 2,500 cases and 38 outbreaks in the US, the highest number in 35 years

• No measles-related deaths have been confirmed in 2026, contrasting with three deaths in 2025.

Measles surpasses 2,500 cases and 38 outbreaks in the US, the highest number in 35 years

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. Childhood MMR uptake fell from 95.2 % in 2019-2020 to 92.5 % in 2024-2025 (CDC).

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On April 27, the CDC warned that continued transmission and increased travel would likely generate additional cases.

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In early August, the federal administration issued an executive order directing HHS to develop separate measles, mumps and rubella shots, to encourage spacing childhood vaccines across multiple visits, and to reduce the number of diseases recommended for routine vaccination from eighteen to eleven.

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• State-level gaps: Wisconsin’s registry shows MMR coverage for 24-month-olds dropped from 84.9 % (2019) to 79.8 % (2025), and for 6-year-olds from 81.6 % to 75.3 %. Several counties now report rates below 70 %.

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• Herd-immunity threshold: More than 95 % vaccination is required for community protection. Only Alabama, California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia meet that level.

Measles surpasses 2,500 cases and 38 outbreaks in the US, the highest number in 35 years

• Projected impact of a 1 % coverage decline: A Common Health Coalition report estimates a 1 % drop could generate 17,000 measles cases, 4,000 hospitalizations and 36 preventable deaths annually.

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• CDC officials reaffirm that the combined MMR vaccine remains “highly effective and long-lasting,” and they continue to recommend the two-dose schedule at 12-15 months and 4-6 years.

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• The agency will review the United States’ measles-elimination status in November.

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• HHS is reviewing the executive order; the CDC has not yet altered its schedule pending guidance.

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• State health departments, including Wisconsin’s, advise families to follow the existing CDC schedule while the federal review proceeds.

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• “Reaching this milestone is particularly striking because we are only in July, and measles cases are still being reported throughout the country, with outbreaks in Virginia and Pennsylvania,” — William Moss, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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• “Vaccination is one of the most powerful investments we can make for the health of our children, but when we fail to maintain high vaccination rates, we all pay the price,” — Dr. Dave Chokshi, chair of the Common Health Coalition

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• The CDC will assess the United States’ measles-elimination status in November and issue any necessary revisions to national guidance.

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• HHS is expected to provide further direction on separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, though single-antigen products are not yet available.

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• Several states are reviewing school-entry immunization requirements in response to the federal order and the ongoing outbreak.

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