The United States is experiencing a surge in measles cases, reaching a 35-year high, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts express concern over the trend, which is closely linked to a decline in childhood vaccination coverage, creating vulnerable pockets for the virus to spread.
Of the measles cases reported so far in 2026 and throughout the entirety of the previous year, 93% have been diagnosed in unvaccinated children. An additional 3% were in children who had received only one dose of the measles vaccine, and 4% were in children who had received both recommended doses. This year, 7% of those infected have required hospitalization.
While no deaths have been reported in the current year, 2025 saw three fatalities attributed to measles. These included one unvaccinated adult and two children who had no known underlying health conditions. Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, described the situation as an epidemic.
"There were two healthy little girls in West Texas that died from measles," Dr. Offit stated in an email to TIME. "Those were the first measles deaths in a child in this country in more than 20 years. I think it is fair to say that measles is epidemic in the United States. And if people are coming from outside this country to the United States, they better make sure they’re up-to-date on their immunizations."
The increasing number of measles cases underscores the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. The CDC's findings highlight a concerning gap in public health protection that experts believe needs immediate attention to curb further spread.