Measles Outbreak Surges Across United States as Vaccination Rates Plummet
The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in decades, with over 1,600 cases confirmed in the first quarter of 2026 alone. Falling vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy are driving outbreaks in more than half of U.S. states, putting the nation's 26-year measles elimination status at risk.
Scale of Current Outbreak
In the first three months of 2026, America logged roughly 1,600 measles cases — nearly as many as the total number for all of 2025, which was by far the worst year we've seen for the highly infectious virus in decades. By early April 2026, the United States had confirmed over 1,600 cases across 33 jurisdictions—a staggering increase largely driven by localized outbreaks among unvaccinated clusters.
Vaccination Status at Risk
Because we've had more than 12 straight months of continuous measles spread, the nation should soon lose the measles elimination status we achieved back in 2000. Measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, but falling vaccination rates have driven outbreaks in more than half of U.S. states so far this year.
Drivers of the Crisis
Experts say the upward trend may continue in 2026 due to vaccination hesitancy and conflicting messaging from federal health officials, with confusing and conflicting recommendations coming from the FDA and CDC.