The United States recorded 1,748 confirmed measles cases in 2026 as of April 16, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This total surpasses the 1,274 cases reported for all of 2019, the previous high since measles was declared eliminated in the country in 2000.

Of the cases, 1,738 were reported by 33 U.S. jurisdictions, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and others, while 10 involved international visitors. Some 94% of cases, or 1,637, are linked to outbreaks, with 388 tied to 19 outbreaks that began this year and 1,249 connected to ongoing ones that started in 2025.

No deaths have been reported from measles this year, but 98 patients, or 6% of cases, required hospitalization. Hospitalization rates were highest among children under 5 years old at 9%, followed by adults over 20 at 8%. Vaccination status is known for most patients: 92% were unvaccinated or had unknown status, 4% had received one dose of the MMR vaccine, and 4% had two doses.

Many cases trace back to international travel, with unvaccinated U.S. residents acquiring the virus abroad and sparking domestic outbreaks upon return, the CDC noted. "When measles gets into communities of unvaccinated people in the United States, outbreaks can occur," the agency stated.

The surge follows a full-year total of 2,288 cases in 2025, which included 48 outbreaks, and 285 cases in 2024. Contributing factors include declining MMR vaccination rates among kindergarteners, which fell from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% in 2024-2025, leaving roughly 286,000 children vulnerable.

State-level data from tracking maps highlight concentrations in several areas. South Carolina reported 1,001 cases since late 2025, Texas 985, Utah 603, Arizona 293, and Florida 152 through early 2026, contributing to the national tally. Earlier updates showed Utah nearing 600 cases by mid-April, with additional reports from Texas, Arizona, and others.

Public health officials continue to urge vaccination to maintain herd immunity thresholds above 95%. The CDC provides weekly updates, maps, and resources for outbreak response, emphasizing MMR shots for children and catch-up doses for adults. As cases have slowed slightly in recent weeks, focus remains on containing the spread in under-vaccinated communities.