The latest CDC data (Sept. 4) shows the US has recorded 3,134 measles cases so far this year, surpassing 2025's total of 2,289 and the highest since 1991. At least 248 patients (about 8% of cases) have been hospitalised.
The CDC reported 231 new cases in the week ending Sept. 3. While measles is highly preventable with the MMR vaccine, community immunity requires a 95% vaccination rate. Yet coverage among US kindergarteners has dropped from 95.2% in 2019/20 to 92.4% in 2025/26. Notably, 94% of this year's cases were in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown status.
Nearly all cases (3,118) are locally acquired across 47 jurisdictions, with only 16 imported. Outbreaks have now persisted for 20 consecutive months and are accelerating. Pennsylvania alone has reported 577 cases in recent months, including two measles-related deaths on Aug. 25, though the CDC has yet to officially attribute them pending further assessment. In Aug., a six-week-old infant with a rare genetic condition died of measles, and another newborn died prematurely after the mother contracted the disease.
According to Reuters, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asked the new CDC Director to remove references to the two Pennsylvania deaths from the agency's online data and has even questioned the figures' validity.
Previously, President Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccines, recommending splitting the MMR into separate shots and cutting the recommended vaccine schedule from 18 to 11 doses.
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