US Measles Cases Reach 1792 in 2026 as Vaccination Rates Fall Below 95 Percent

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,792 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of April 23, 2026, spread across 37 jurisdictions.

Of those cases, 93 percent are outbreak-associated. The CDC has recorded 22 new measles outbreaks in 2026, with 401 cases from outbreaks that began this year and 1,267 from outbreaks that started in 2025.

School-aged children between 5 and 19 years old account for 51 percent of cases. Children under 5 make up 21 percent, and adults 20 and older account for 27 percent.

Ninety-two percent of cases occurred in people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Six percent of cases required hospitalization, down from 11 percent in 2025. No measles deaths have been reported in 2026, compared to three deaths in 2025.

The CDC attributes the surge to two main factors. National MMR vaccine coverage among kindergarteners fell to 92.5 percent in the 2024-2025 school year, below the 95 percent threshold needed for herd immunity. That leaves approximately 286,000 kindergarteners at risk. Increased global measles activity has also led to more imported cases.

The 2026 total is on pace to approach the 2,288 cases recorded for all of 2025, which was the highest annual count in decades.

Public health officials are urging parents to ensure children receive both doses of the MMR vaccine on schedule.