U.S. measles cases have passed 5,000 for the year, the first time that has happened since 1991. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 5,182 confirmed cases in 2026 in its weekly update on Friday, Nov. 6, according to Reuters, AFP and ABC News. That is more than double the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025.
The new total is up 330 cases from 4,852 in the CDC’s previous weekly update on Oct. 30, according to Contagion Live, a pace of growth that shows the outbreaks are still spreading heading into the holiday travel season.
The latest numbers
- Cases: 5,182 confirmed so far in 2026, the highest annual count in 35 years, per CDC data reported Friday.
- Where: ABC News reported infections confirmed in 45 states; the CDC’s count of reporting jurisdictions also includes New York City and Washington, D.C., which it lists separately.
- Outbreaks: 43 new outbreaks reported this year, and about 96% of cases are linked to outbreaks.
- Hospitalizations: 562 people, or about 11% of cases, have been hospitalized, Reuters reported.
- Vaccination status: 96% of this year’s cases were in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, according to Reuters.
- Ages: Reuters reported 908 cases in children under 5, 2,104 in ages 5 to 19, and 2,132 in adults 20 and older.
Deaths: two different counts
State health departments have reported eight measles-related deaths this year: six in Pennsylvania and one each in New York and Wisconsin. The CDC’s official count stands at four, and the agency notes the number may change as reviews are completed. The CDC is also working with state epidemiologists on a standard definition of a measles death. Upstormed News reported on Pennsylvania’s sixth measles death earlier this week and on the death of a child in New York, the state’s first such death in 30 years.
Where the largest outbreaks are
Pennsylvania is managing what Contagion Live describes as the largest measles outbreak in the country. Wisconsin has reported 431 cases across 13 counties in its largest outbreak in more than three decades, and its health officials now recommend an early MMR dose for certain infants 6 to 11 months old who are at higher risk of exposure. New York has reported 178 cases, most of them outside New York City, and Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency in October.
Why cases are climbing
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, thanks to vaccination, meaning it was no longer spreading continuously within the country. Public health officials link the resurgence to falling vaccination rates. CDC data show kindergarten MMR coverage dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025-2026, below the 95% target health officials say is needed to stop outbreaks. The CDC estimates about 280,000 kindergartners are at risk.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. It typically causes high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash, and it can lead to pneumonia and brain swelling, which can cause lasting harm or death. Young children are among those at highest risk of serious complications. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, according to Contagion Live and long-standing CDC guidance.
Why it matters for families
With Thanksgiving and holiday travel coming up, many families will be gathering with relatives, including babies too young to be fully vaccinated and older adults. This is general information, not medical advice. Some simple steps:
- Check your family’s vaccination records, and talk with your doctor if you are unsure whether you or your children are up to date.
- If you are traveling or live near an outbreak area, ask your doctor whether an early dose is recommended for an infant.
- If someone develops a fever and rash, call your doctor or clinic before going in, so staff can take steps to protect others in the waiting room.
- Follow updates from your state or local health department, which often post exposure locations.
Measles is not the only illness on the rise this fall. Flu season has also arrived early, so it is a good time to ask your doctor about recommended vaccines for the whole household.
The CDC updates its measles numbers weekly, and the next update is expected next week. Upstormed News will follow it.
Read more: More Parents Skip Newborn Vitamin K Shot as Infant Bleeding Rises, Studies Find
Has the measles surge changed how your family is planning for holiday gatherings?
Sources: SRN News / Reuters, “US measles cases rise to 5,182, CDC says” (November 6, 2026); ABC News, “Measles cases surpass 5,000 in the US with infections confirmed in 45 states: CDC” (November 6, 2026); Yahoo News / AFP, “US reports highest number of measles cases in 35 years” (November 6, 2026); Contagion Live, “Measles Update: November 6, 2026” (November 6, 2026); CDC, “Measles Cases and Outbreaks” (accessed November 6, 2026)
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