Measles cases in the United States are approaching the 1,000 mark in early 2026, with infections now reported across 24 states, according to the latest data from health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 988 measles cases so far this year, with the majority stemming from outbreaks that began in 2025. This follows last year’s troubling total of 2,267 cases, which marked the highest annual count in more than three decades.
South Carolina has emerged as the epicenter of the current outbreak with 847 confirmed cases, primarily concentrated in Spartanburg County. The outbreak has grown by 58 cases in just three days, indicating rapid community spread.
“The number of public exposure sites indicates that measles is circulating in the community, increasing the risk of exposure and the risk of infection for those who are not immune due to vaccination or natural infection,” the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported.
Among those infected nationwide, 93% were unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. Children have been disproportionately affected, with 85% of cases occurring in people 19 years and younger. About 27% of patients are 5 years old or younger.
Health officials attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates. MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year to 92.5% in the 2024-25 school year, leaving approximately 286,000 kindergartners vulnerable.
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through airborne particles. One infected person can spread the disease to up to 18 others in an unvaccinated population. The virus can remain infectious in a room for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.
Initial symptoms resemble a cold – cough, runny nose, and red eyes – before the characteristic rash appears. A person is contagious four days before the rash develops. Some patients develop serious complications including pneumonia or degenerative neurological disease.
Public health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination, noting that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles infection.
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