US Measles Cases Pass 5,000 for First Time Since 1991 as Elimination Faces Review
The CDC has confirmed 5,182 measles cases in the US this year, the highest since 1991, as a review next week could end the elimination status held since 2000.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Whispyhistory
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 — Measles cases in the United States have passed 5,000 in a single year for the first time since 1991, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), putting at risk the elimination status the country has held since 2000. The CDC counted 5,182 confirmed cases as of 5 November, including 330 new infections in the latest week alone.
Cases have been recorded in 45 states and Washington, D.C., and 43 outbreaks have been reported in 2026, with 96 per cent of confirmed cases linked to outbreaks. The total is already more than double the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025, and the highest annual count in 35 years.
- The CDC counted 5,182 confirmed measles cases in the US as of 5 November, the first time the annual total has passed 5,000 since 1991.
- Cases have been recorded in 45 states and Washington, D.C., with 43 outbreaks reported in 2026 and 330 new infections in the latest week alone.
- The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to review US transmission data on 10 November, and the US could lose the measles elimination status it has held since 2000.
Measles by the numbers
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases in 2026 (as of 5 November) | 5,182 |
| New infections in the latest week | 330 |
| States with cases | 45, plus Washington, D.C. |
| Outbreaks reported in 2026 | 43 |
| Cases linked to outbreaks | 96 per cent |
| Cases in all of 2025 | 2,289 |
| Confirmed deaths | 4; at least 8 linked deaths reported |
| MMR vaccine effectiveness (two doses) | About 97 per cent |
Who is affected
Almost all of the cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, and 96 per cent of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated. The confirmed death count stands at four, while state health authorities have reported at least eight deaths linked to the disease, including a Wisconsin infant, a Pennsylvania resident and a child in Lewis County, New York. Only five states — Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and New Hampshire — have reported no cases.
What elimination status means
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning the virus no longer spread continuously within the country. That status depends on there being no continuous transmission for 12 months or more, backed by a strong disease tracking system. The wider Americas region already lost its measles elimination status in November 2025, after Canada recorded continuous transmission for at least 12 months.
The 10 November review
The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to review US transmission data on 10 November. If it finds that one strain of the virus has circulated without a break for 12 months, the United States will lose the status. The last comparable resurgence, from 1989 to 1991, produced about 55,000 infections and 123 deaths. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 per cent effective at preventing it.
What happens next
The review on 10 November is the immediate test of whether the country keeps its elimination status, and the CDC will publish its next weekly measles update on Friday. Health officials will be watching whether the weekly increase stays above 300 cases. Other federal data continues: the latest jobs report showed 165,000 jobs added in October, and Social Security faces a 22% benefit cut in 2032.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many measles cases has the US recorded in 2026?
The CDC counted 5,182 confirmed cases as of 5 November, more than double the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025. Cases have been recorded in 45 states and Washington, D.C., with 43 outbreaks in 2026.
What happens on 10 November?
The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to review US transmission data, and if it finds one strain of the virus has circulated without a break for 12 months, the United States will lose its elimination status, held since 2000.
How effective is the MMR vaccine?
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 per cent effective at preventing measles. Almost all of the 2026 cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
Which states have reported no measles cases in 2026?
Only five states — Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and New Hampshire — have reported no cases.
