US Measles Cases Hit 5,182, Highest Since 1991 as Kindergarten Vaccination Falls to 92.4%
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Nov 7
US Measles Cases Hit 5,182, Highest Since 1991 as Kindergarten Vaccination Falls to 92.4%
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Nov 7
Summary
CDC data show 5,182 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026, more than double 2025's 2,289 and the highest annual total in 35 years.
4,993 cases were tied to outbreaks, and the surge comes as kindergarten vaccination coverage fell to 92.4% in 2025-26 from 95.2% in 2019-20.
Children and teens account for about 59% of infections, with 18% in children under five and 41% in those aged five to 19.
Four measles deaths are in the CDC's national count, but Pennsylvania alone reports six deaths and 1,487 cases, fueling a dispute over whether to track 'measles-associated' deaths.
The clash comes as the U.S., which eliminated measles more than two decades ago, faces a broader global rise in cases linked to vaccine skepticism and healthcare gaps.