US Measles Deaths Reach 10 as Cases Top 5,400 in 45 States
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Nov 13
US Measles Deaths Reach 10 as Cases Top 5,400 in 45 States
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Nov 13
Summary
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania each reported another measles death Friday, lifting the U.S. toll to 10 as CDC case counts reached 5,412 nationwide.
230 new infections were added in a week, and the outbreak has spread across 45 states—far above the 180 cases the U.S. averaged annually from 2000 through 2024.
Vaccination coverage among kindergartners fell to 92% in 2026 from 95% in 2019, leaving roughly 300,000 children entering school without measles shots and below the herd-immunity threshold.
Two MMR doses are 97% effective, but measles can infect 90% of unvaccinated close contacts and can cause hospitalization, pneumonia, brain swelling and death.
A decision on whether the United States still qualifies as having eliminated measles could come as soon as Friday.
With the US risking its 26-year measles elimination status, how will health officials combat the alarming rise in vaccine exemptions?
Beyond a simple rash, how might the terrifying reality of immune amnesia reshape public response to the rapidly spreading measles virus?
As global cases surge, what hidden neurological dangers face the 300,000 unvaccinated kindergartners entering classrooms during this 2026 outbreak?
2026 Measles Crisis: Over 5,400 U.S. Cases, Endemic Status Returns, and the Fight to Restore Immunity
Overview
By November 2026, the U.S. faced a record measles crisis as MMR vaccination rates among kindergarteners fell below 95%, creating vulnerable pockets where the virus spread rapidly. This led to over 5,400 confirmed cases and outbreaks in 45 states, with strict isolation protocols disrupting schools and hospitals. Persistent transmission for more than a year caused the U.S. to lose its measles elimination status after a formal review by international health authorities. The crisis was fueled by digital misinformation, policy changes weakening vaccine requirements, and administrative upheaval, while public health agencies scrambled to contain outbreaks and restore trust through emergency vaccination campaigns and new technologies.