November 5, 2026Updated November 6, 2026, 11:50 a.m. ET
The resurgence of measles in the United States has far surpassed its three-decade high, doubling last year’s caseload and causing many deaths as the country nears an international investigation into its handling of the highly contagious disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 5,000 confirmed cases of measles in the United States as of November 5.
Pennsylvania, now the epicenter of the nation’s largest outbreak, confirmed its sixth measles-related death of the year on November 4, while New York announced its first death in 30 years on November 2. Wisconsin also reported a grim milestone on Nov. 5, with health officials saying its first death from measles since 1990 was that of an infant.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the first infant death linked to a measles outbreak in Wisconsin in many years. My heart is broken for the family,” Wisconsin Department of Health Secretary Kirsten Johnson said in a news release. “Any child death is a tragedy and even more so when it is linked to a vaccine-preventable disease.”
The country has not recorded more than four deaths from measles since 1991.
The official nationwide tally from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which lags behind state reports, shows four deaths as of October 29. The numbers reported by the CDC come amid a controversial decision by the agency to change how it classifies measles-related deaths.
Pennsylvania surpassed 1,000 cases in early October, a dramatic increase from the 106 cases reported statewide last year. Several other states are also reporting significant outbreaks, with more than 100 infections each.
As cases rise, the United States is less than a week away from a World Health Organization review that will determine whether the country maintains its official title as a measles-free country, also known as measles elimination status.
Measles cases for 2026 exceed 5,000
As of November 5, the CDC reported 5,182 confirmed cases of measles in 45 states plus Washington, D.C. — more than double last year’s total of 2,289. Of these, 562 (11%) were hospitalized. About 41% of cases involved children and adolescents aged 5 to 19, which is typical of past outbreaks. More unusually, people aged 20 and over make up the largest group (also 41%), a significant increase from last year’s 29%.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus that most commonly and seriously affects children. The virus is one of the most contagious infectious diseases: it is so contagious that 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to it contract the disease. Additionally, according to the CDC, 1 in 5 people end up hospitalized.
Almost all illnesses (96%) reported in current outbreaks were contracted by people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
The actual number of sick people is likely higher, with only cases confirmed by doctors and reported to the CDC being counted. This means that people who get sick but do not see a doctor for a diagnosis are not included. The CDC’s counts also tend to lag behind states because its numbers are only updated once a week once certain reporting parameters are met.
See states with most measles cases
As of Nov. 4, Pennsylvania had the largest measles outbreak, with more than 1,400 infections, according to state health data.
The state also reported six deaths associated with measles. However, the CDC tally still reflects only four after a terse back-and-forth that began in August between U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. In social media posts and speeches, Kennedy accused Shapiro of “fabricating” the deaths, while Shapiro said Kennedy was “downplaying the seriousness of measles.” The CDC said on October 13 that it would deploy more support to the state to investigate the outbreak.
Two other states, Utah and South Carolina, are grappling with outbreaks of 500 cases or more. New York declared a state of emergency on October 5 after the state surpassed 100 cases and subsequently reported its first measles death in more than 30 years on November 2.
WHO to review US measles elimination status as cases surpass multi-decade high
Measles, one of the most contagious infectious diseases, was eliminated from the United States in 2000, which the CDC called a “historic public health achievement.”
Declining vaccination rates and the resulting resurgence, however, have raised concerns that the United States could lose its measles elimination status, a designation granted when a disease has not spread continuously in a country for at least 12 months. The WHO is expected to review the U.S. status on Nov. 10 following the 2025 outbreak in Texas that killed three people. Canada already lost its “measles-free” status in November 2025.
Cases reached their highest level in more than three decades under the Trump administration in 2026, which attempted to change the childhood vaccination schedule and promoted disproven anti-vaccine ideas. Such cases had already reached a multi-decade high in 2025, when 2,289 infections were confirmed in 43 states plus Washington, DC. Two children and one adult died as a result of these outbreaks, marking the first pediatric death from measles in a decade. All three were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which protects against measles with an effectiveness of 97%, is generally given to children aged 12 to 15 months for the first dose and 4 to 6 years for the second, according to the regular vaccination schedule. The MMR vaccination rate has declined in recent years and more states are no longer meeting the herd immunity threshold.
Gn Health
