Measles has continued its historic resurgence in the United States this year, with a second record-breaking year in a row. Just over halfway through 2026, the country has recorded more cases than in any other year since 1991 – surpassing a grim milestone that was just topped last year.
The disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but more cases have been recorded in the past 18 months than there have been in the previous 25 years combined.
Dozens of new cases are reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each week, with new large outbreaks adding to others that have simmered since last year.
“This essentially is a public health failure, and it’s avoidable,” said Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most measles cases are among children, and nearly all of them are unvaccinated.
Responding to measles outbreaks has become a widespread and persistent challenge in the US. Multiple outbreaks that started in 2025 continued into 2026, and new exposures have led to other large outbreaks affecting most regions of the country.
