Measles cases surpass 5,000 in the US with infections confirmed in 45 states: CDC
Measles cases in the United States have surpassed 5,000 this year, according to newly updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
At least 5,182 cases have been confirmed, with cases reported in 45 states and Washington, D.C. Eighteen cases have been among international visitors to the U.S., according to the CDC.
Eight measles-associated deaths have been confirmed so far in 2026: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin.
Three of those deaths were confirmed by state health officials this week. On Wednesday, the New York State Department of Health reported the first known measles-associated death in the state in more than 30 years, a child who lived in upstate New York.
Another death was confirmed on Wednesday in Pennsylvania among an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County, located in the northwestern part of the state.
On Thursday, Wisconsin health officials said an infant died with measles, the first death in the state since 1990.
The CDC has confirmed four of the eight deaths so far, but said the number is "subject to change."
States with confirmed cases include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
About 96% of cases are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, according to data from the federal health agency.
Meanwhile, 2% of cases are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 2% of cases are among those who received the recommended two doses, according to the CDC.
A plurality of cases has been recorded among those aged 5 to 19. At least 11% of cases have resulted in hospitalization, including more than 1 in 10 children under 5 years old.
The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old before school entry. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says.
However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years. During the 2025-26 school year, 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine, according to data. This is lower than the 95.2% seen in the 2019-20 school year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
