Measles cases top 2025 total, surge nationwide

Measles cases in 2026 have surged to 2,318 across about 44–45 jurisdictions, the highest annual total since 1991 and well above 2025, driven largely by numerous outbreaks including multi-state clusters and a large Utah–Arizona spillover. Health officials warn that declining kindergarten vaccination rates and gaps in immunization are fueling the spread, with ongoing debates over leadership and vaccine misinformation complicating efforts to curb the outbreak and restore elimination status.