The CDC reports 4,410 measles cases in the US for 2026, with 451 hospitalizations. Pennsylvania leads with 1,222 cases and five deaths, prompting federal assistance and expanded vaccination efforts.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 4,410 measles cases so far in 2026, an increase of 330 in a week. The agency also reports 451 measles-related hospitalizations nationwide this year. Children and teenagers aged five to 19 account for 42 percent of cases, followed by adults aged 20 and older, who make up 41 percent. Seventeen percent of cases were among children under the age of five.
Pennsylvania reported 1,222 cases across 42 counties as of Wednesday, including 86 new infections since October 9, according to the state health department. The outbreak in the state has led to 225 hospitalizations and five confirmed measles-associated deaths. State officials are actively investigating a sixth reported death.
The CDC is sending a "disease detective" from its Epidemic Intelligence Service to work with state health officials on the Pennsylvania outbreak. The deployment follows Pennsylvania’s request for federal assistance, known as an Epi-Aid. The CDC said on Tuesday it would deploy more support to Pennsylvania to help investigate the outbreak.
Pennsylvania has expanded vaccination efforts in affected communities. State health centre staff have administered more than 5,900 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine doses at 202 pop-up clinics since the outbreak began in late April.
Measles vaccination coverage among US kindergarteners fell from 95.2 percent in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4 percent in 2025–2026, according to data from the CDC. The agency estimates that about 280,000 kindergarteners are at risk because of gaps in vaccination coverage.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on October 5 as measles cases rose in nearby Pennsylvania. The order is effective until November 4 and expands the number of healthcare professionals authorised to administer vaccines and allows nurses greater flexibility to order measles testing. Reuters reports this as the first such declaration by a US state.
Last month, the CDC shifted to using mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics for measles-related deaths, rather than relying on state health departments, a change that has drawn scrutiny. The CDC has confirmed two measles-associated deaths in 2026, though it has not identified the states involved.
The rising number of measles cases and hospitalizations indicates a significant public health challenge. The disparity in vaccination coverage among kindergarteners highlights potential vulnerabilities in community immunity. The deployment of federal resources to Pennsylvania and the declaration of a disaster emergency in New York underscore the severity of the outbreak and the coordinated response required to contain it.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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