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US Measles Cases Hit 5,412 as CDC Reports Sixth Death in Worst Outbreak Since 1991
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 5,412 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of November 12, 2026, up 230 from the previous weekly update, as the country battles its worst measles outbreak in decades. The 4.4 percent rise pushes the national total above 5,000 for the first time since 1991. The CDC has now confirmed six measles-associated deaths in 2026, double the three recorded in all of 2025. Pennsylvania is the epicentre, with 1,505 cases and six deaths.
Key Points
- The CDC reported 5,412 confirmed measles cases as of November 12, 2026, up 230 in a week.
- Hospitalisations stand at 591, or 11 percent of all 2026 cases; children under five have the highest rate, at 17 percent.
- The CDC has confirmed six measles deaths in 2026, double the three of all of 2025; it does not name the states.
- Pennsylvania is the epicentre, with 1,505 cases as of November 9, 290 hospitalisations and six deaths.
- A Pan American Health Organization commission will soon decide whether the US keeps its measles-free status.
What Happened
The CDC published its latest weekly measles update on Friday, November 13, 2026, reporting 5,412 confirmed cases across the country, according to Reuters. The rise of 230 cases on the previous update makes 2026 the worst year for measles in the United States since 1991, when the country recorded more than 9,000 cases. The previous update put the total at 5,182 cases.
The burden falls hardest on the youngest and the oldest. Of the 591 people hospitalised this year, 160 are children under five — 17 percent of the 951 cases in that age group. Adults aged 20 and older account for 332 hospitalisations from 2,240 cases, a rate of 15 percent. Ages 5 to 19 have a far lower rate of 4 percent: 98 admissions from 2,183 cases. In total, 5,394 of the 5,412 cases were reported by 47 jurisdictions.
The six deaths are double the toll of all of 2025, but the federal figure is again below the count from state health departments, which have announced at least eight deaths this year: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin. The CDC does not name the states.
Background: How the Outbreak Grew
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning the virus no longer spread continuously within the country. What changed is vaccination coverage. The share of kindergarten children vaccinated against measles fell from 95.2 percent in the 2019-20 school year to 92.4 percent in 2025-26, below the roughly 95 percent threshold needed to stop the virus spreading. Around 280,000 kindergarten children are now estimated to be at risk.
The 2026 surge began with a large outbreak in Texas in January 2025, driven by a strain known as D8-9171. It spread through Utah and into at least four other states and has now circulated without interruption for more than 12 months. About 96 percent of this year's cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, and about 96 percent are linked to known outbreaks. Kentucky has reported 204 cases in its largest surge since 1991.
US Measles Cases 2026: Pennsylvania at the Centre
Pennsylvania's health department reported 1,505 measles cases as of November 9, with 290 people hospitalised and six deaths, making the state by far the hardest hit in the country. The outbreak has spread across 44 counties, and state officials have run vaccination drives and opened pop-up clinics in the worst-affected communities. The state's death toll alone equals the CDC's confirmed national figure. Doctors are watching for high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash starting on the face.
Reactions and Official Guidance
Dr Thomas Lew of Stanford University School of Medicine told Reuters that six deaths from "an entirely preventable disease" were "a travesty of our public health system". His comment captures the frustration among public health experts that a disease preventable with a vaccine costing a few dollars a dose is once again killing Americans, including children, in 2026.
The CDC urges anyone unsure of their vaccination status to check their records and get vaccinated if needed. It advises parents to make sure children receive both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine on schedule: a first dose at 12 to 15 months and a second at 4 to 6 years.
Why It Matters
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to medicine. An infected person can spread it simply by breathing or coughing, and the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after they leave a room. Around nine in ten unvaccinated people exposed to measles will catch it. The disease can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and death.
The outbreak matters beyond the case count because of what it says about the country's defences. The United States has held measles elimination status since 2000, an achievement that depends on coverage above about 95 percent. With coverage now below that line and cases still rising by more than 200 a week, the country is on the verge of losing a status that took decades to earn.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on the Pan American Health Organization's expert commission, which met in Washington from November 10 to 13. It is expected to decide in the coming days whether the United States keeps its measles elimination status, with its decision expected on Monday, November 17. Losing the status carries no sanctions, but regaining it would require a full year without sustained transmission of the virus.
The CDC will also publish its next weekly case update in seven days. If the weekly increase stays near 230 cases, the national total will pass 5,600 next week and could approach 6,000 before the end of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many measles cases are there in the US in 2026?
5,412 confirmed cases as of November 12, 2026, per the CDC — up 230 in a week and the highest annual total since 1991.
How many people have died of measles in the US in 2026?
Six, according to the CDC — double the three of all of 2025. States report at least eight: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin.
Which state has the most measles cases?
Pennsylvania, with 1,505 cases as of November 9, 290 hospitalisations and six deaths, spread across 44 counties.
How effective is the MMR vaccine?
Two doses are about 97 percent effective, according to the CDC: a first dose at 12 to 15 months and a second at 4 to 6 years.
Could the US lose its measles elimination status?
Yes. A Pan American Health Organization commission met November 10-13, 2026; its decision is expected Monday, November 17. Regaining it needs a year without sustained transmission.
Read More on US News Pulse
Image: a nurse gives the MMR vaccine to a young child at a US health clinic. Sources: Reuters, CDC.
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