The United States has recorded 2,295 confirmed cases of measles as of Tuesday, marking the highest number of infections in 35 years and surpassing the entire 2025 total before the end of July. This figure exceeds the 2,289 cases reported in 2025, which was the highest since a 1991 outbreak that saw approximately 9,500 infections.
Epidemiologists attribute the surge to significant outbreaks earlier in the year, particularly in South Carolina and Utah. The South Carolina outbreak alone sickened nearly 1,000 people by the end of April, resulting in an estimated $2.1 million in costs for the state. Experts express frustration that measles transmission has not been halted within the country.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread vaccination, with annual cases dropping to around 180. However, declining vaccination rates have led to a steady increase in infections. Health officials warn that this trend is facilitating the spread of the disease within the U.S., independent of international travel.
Recent incidents have highlighted the ongoing risk, including an exposure event at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in June and a notification to diners at an Italian restaurant in New York City in May. Experts caution that without significant interventions, 2026 case numbers could substantially exceed those of 2025.
While outbreaks can be contained through effective vaccination campaigns, isolation, contact tracing, and community engagement, the current pattern is described as deeply concerning. Measles elimination requires continuous high vaccination coverage, swift detection of outbreaks, and robust local public health responses.
The symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, often followed by white spots in the mouth and a rash. Doctors emphasize that measles is a serious illness that can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization, and death, particularly in young children and vulnerable individuals. The disease can also cause subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal neurological condition that can manifest decades after the initial infection.
Public health officials and medical professionals, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., continue to advocate for vaccination. Kennedy has stated that vaccines protect individual children and contribute to community immunity, safeguarding those medically unable to be vaccinated.
Health officials believe the situation is recoverable, pointing to the nation's past success in eliminating measles. Restoring high vaccination coverage rates, strengthening surveillance systems, and implementing rapid responses to every case are seen as critical steps to regain control of the disease and prevent future outbreaks, disruptions, and severe health consequences.