Measles

• US measles cases climbed to 1,671 as of April 6, 2026, with 96 new infections reported in the past week, the vast majority in Utah according to the CDC weekly update. • All but 10 cases are linked to 32 states and New York City, with 94% associated with 17 outbreaks including one new outbreak of three or more related cases. • The number of affected states increased by one this week, highlighting ongoing transmission risks amid declining vaccination rates.

• The US measles outbreak has accelerated in 2026 with cases now reported in more than half of the states, marking a resurgence 20 years after official eradication, driven primarily by declining vaccination rates. • Last year, the US reported over 2,000 measles cases (2,213 confirmed) and three pediatric deaths, with the mortality rate matching historical data of approximately one death per 1,000 infected children. • Oregon has diagnosed 13 measles cases so far in 2026 with hundreds of potential exposures in the past week; health experts note that official case counts likely underestimate true infection rates due to unreported cases and undetected transmission indicated by wastewater data.

• The US measles caseload climbed to 1,671 infections with nearly 100 new cases reported in the past week, according to the CDC's weekly update, with the vast majority occurring in Utah. • Utah recorded 73 new measles cases this week and 142 new cases over the past three weeks, bringing the state's 2026 total to 362 cases compared with 197 for all of 2025. • The outbreak spans 32 states and New York City, with 94% of confirmed cases linked to one of 17 outbreaks; Arizona has 71 total cases, Florida has 129, and Texas has 175 cases.

• The CDC posted its first large set of genetic data from 1,000 measles viruses circulating in the US last year, with more data expected soon to assess if elimination status has been lost. • In 2025, measles cases reached 2,285 across 44 states—the worst in over 30 years—while 2026 has seen 1,575 cases by late March amid declining vaccination rates. • Delays in data release stemmed from mass layoffs and resignations; researchers criticize the Trump administration's budget cuts and slow outbreak response.

• Florida reported 143 measles cases as of March 21, 2026, with 73% concentrated in Collier County, marking a decline from 139 cases the previous week. • The state has dropped to the fourth-highest number of measles cases nationally as the spread slows, indicating a shift in outbreak trajectory. • The majority of cases remain geographically concentrated, with nearly three-quarters of infections occurring in a single county, suggesting localized transmission patterns.

• Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General, discussed on CBS's Face the Nation a surge of more than 1,500 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. since January 2026, per CDC data. • A notable spike is occurring in Utah, contributing to the national increase in this highly contagious disease. • The outbreak highlights ongoing vaccination challenges and public health risks in under-immunized communities.

• A measles outbreak in Washtenaw County, southeast Michigan, now includes 7 cases under investigation involving unvaccinated children and adults, with potential exposure at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital's ER on March 21. • The latest case concerns a young child treated in Ypsilanti, raising concerns that ER visitors may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. • All confirmed and suspected cases are among unvaccinated individuals, highlighting ongoing vaccination gaps amid the outbreak's growth reported on March 25.

• State officials are warning that spring break 2026 travel season could facilitate the spread of measles across the United States as travelers move between regions with varying vaccination rates. • Health authorities are concerned about potential measles transmission during the high-travel period, with implications for public health preparedness and disease surveillance. • The warning underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining herd immunity and controlling vaccine-preventable diseases during major travel seasons.

• Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to alter Florida's vaccine requirements for school children failed during the 2026 legislative session. • DeSantis promises continued efforts to pass these policies despite the setback and ongoing measles cases rising across the state. • The resolve strengthens public health debates on vaccination mandates amid disease outbreaks in Florida.

• As of March 6, 2026, the United States has confirmed 1,300 measles infections this year across 30 states, putting the country on track to surpass 2025's record 35-year high numbers. • Measles has continuously circulated in the U.S. for over a year following an outbreak in Texas (January-August 2025), with ongoing outbreaks on the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina that drastically increased in January 2026. • The Pan American Health Organization postponed its decision from April to November 2026 on whether the U.S. should lose its measles elimination status achieved in 2000, but current trends suggest it likely will due to vaccination rates falling below the critical 95% threshold.