Behind the familiar symptoms of fever and spots is an extremely contagious virus that can cause lasting harm or death. That's the reality of measles.
But many people in the US appear to have forgotten the seriousness of a measles infection, with outbreaks mainly in under-vaccinated communities.
In fact, infections have hit a 35-year high as declining vaccination rates have created growing pockets of susceptible people.
Experts warn that the fading memories of the once-common disease have left too many people unaware of its dangers.
The number of measles cases in the United States up to mid-July 2026 surpassed the total number of cases in 2025. By the week of July 13-19, 2026, the number of reported measles cases was 2,321. By comparison, the total number of US measles cases in 2025 was 2,286*.
