Measles cases in the United States have climbed past 5,400 this year, and the country could soon lose the “eliminated” status it has held since 2000.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counted 5,412 confirmed cases in 2026 as of Nov. 12, up 230 from the week before, according to Contagion Live’s analysis of the CDC’s Friday update. Good Morning America, also citing CDC data, reported cases in 45 states. For comparison, the U.S. averaged about 180 cases a year from 2000 to 2024, GMA noted, and 2025 ended with 2,289 cases.
Hospitalizations and deaths
About 11% of people with measles this year, 591 in all, have been hospitalized, Contagion Live reported. Children under 5 had the highest hospitalization rate, at 17%. About 96% of cases were in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
Reports differ on deaths. The CDC’s official count lists six measles deaths this year, a figure the agency says may change after reviews, while GMA and STAT News, citing state reports, put the total at eight, including deaths announced in Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin in early November.
A decision on “elimination” this week
A committee of the Pan American Health Organization, the regional arm of the World Health Organization, began a four-day meeting on Nov. 11 to decide whether the U.S. has kept its measles elimination status, STAT News reported. A country loses that status when the virus spreads continuously for 12 months or more. Contagion Live reported that many epidemiologists expect the committee to find measles is once again endemic in the U.S., and GMA said a decision could come as soon as Friday.
Losing the status would not change what doctors do day to day, but it would be a major symbolic setback and a signal that the disease has a foothold again.
Why vaccination rates matter
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. A sick person can infect about 90% of unvaccinated people around them, and the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room, GMA reported. Communities need about 95% vaccination coverage to keep outbreaks from spreading.
Kindergarten MMR coverage has slipped from about 95% before the pandemic to roughly 92% for the 2025-26 school year, leaving about 280,000 to 300,000 kindergartners unprotected, according to both reports. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing infection.
Upstormed News has also covered other seasonal health threats this week, including World Pneumonia Day and the Ebola outbreak in Congo.
Why it matters for families
- Check your family’s records. Most children get MMR doses at 12-15 months and 4-6 years. Adults unsure of their status can ask their doctor.
- Know the signs: high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the face.
- If you suspect measles, call your doctor or clinic before going in so they can protect other patients.
- Holiday travel brings crowds. Make sure everyone is up to date before trips.
- This is general information. Talk with your doctor about what is right for your family.
What to watch next
The PAHO committee’s announcement is expected by the end of its meeting. Upstormed News will report the decision and what it means.
Read more: World Diabetes Day: nearly half of people with diabetes don’t know it
Has your school or community talked about measles this year? Share what you are seeing in the comments.
Sources: Contagion Live, “Measles Update: November 13, 2026” (Nov. 13, 2026); Good Morning America, “Measles cases nationwide top 5,400 as outbreaks spread across the US” (Nov. 13, 2026); STAT News, “Measles U.S. status, post-midterms doctors: Morning Rounds” (Nov. 11, 2026)
Leave a Reply