Measles cases in the United States have reached a 35-year high for a second year in a row, according to data compiled by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By just over halfway through 2026, the country has recorded more cases than in any year since 1991, surpassing the level reached last year.

Although the disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, more cases have been logged in the past 18 months than in the previous 25 years combined. Dozens of new cases are reported to the CDC each week, with several large outbreaks continuing from 2025 and others emerging in different parts of the country.

“This essentially is a public health failure, and it’s avoidable,” said Dr Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Racine said most cases involve children and that nearly all of them are unvaccinated.

Record totals and linked outbreaks

Responding to measles outbreaks has become a persistent challenge for public health agencies. The CDC data show multiple outbreaks that began in 2025 continued into 2026, and new exposures have led to additional large outbreaks affecting much of the country.

South Carolina has recorded more measles cases in 2026 than any other state. In Spartanburg County, an outbreak began in October and grew to nearly 1,000 cases before ending in April, making it the largest in the US in decades.

Neely, the Rev. Scott Neely’s Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg, was described as sitting in the centre of the outbreak. He said he initially felt insulated, but contact tracing later found a link: on the first Friday of 2026, the state health department reached out after a person with measles had attended the church’s annual Christmas brunch. Neely said the event potentially exposed dozens of attendees.

Tracing spread after no guest list

Neely said there was no list of who attended the potluck-style brunch, which was led by congregation volunteers and open to community members. To continue the investigation, the South Carolina Department of Public Health asked for names so staff could follow the chain of exposures and reduce further spread.

Messages were exchanged quickly among church leadership and workers. Within hours, someone shared a photo taken in the room. Neely said a team effort was then used to identify people in the image, collect contact information and pass it to the health department.

He said he did not hear further updates from the state and that transmission appeared not to extend beyond the initial exposure, which he attributed to high vaccination rates within the congregation. Neely said the experience showed how time-consuming contact tracing can be, while also reinforcing the role of vaccination.

“This story was a community trying to figure out what to do in real time,” he said, adding that cooperation and vaccinations helped.

At least 2,318 cases have been reported in 2026, with more than five months left in the year, and the total has already passed last year’s figure. Nearly 2,300 cases were reported in 2025, about 12 times the annual average since measles was declared eliminated and the worst year in more than three decades.

More than 90% of 2026 cases are linked to outbreaks and involve people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, the CDC data show. Most cases this year are connected to outbreaks that started last year, including one that began along the Utah-Arizona state line and has been continuing for more than a year. International health officials are set to assess in November whether the US can still claim measles elimination status.

Strain on investigation teams

Health officials say measles is extremely contagious and investigations are labour-intensive. Dr Farrell Tobolowsky, medical director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s communicable disease programme, said investigators were activated after exposures from just two cases in April and that the department would struggle to handle more than one case without additional staff, amid pressures following public health funding cuts.

Virginia has seen outbreaks concentrated around lower coverage pockets despite high overall vaccination rates. In Buckingham County, an outbreak that began after a case was detected in May has been linked to more than 150 cases, with local staff meeting residents, interviewing families and working with healthcare providers. The state also used a mobile care team for testing and support at home.

In Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, the state health department said the outbreak has continued to grow, with more than 100 cases reported this year. A spokesperson said none had received both recommended doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and added that two doses provide 97% lifetime protection.

In South Carolina, after the January scramble, Neely said the church began hosting mobile vaccination clinics as part of the response.

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25 July 2026

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Thought RK was going to keep us safe .

So quiet recently ...is he sick?

The US measles surge is the logical endgame of America’s “freedom experiment” in not vaccinating.

Though declared eliminated in 2000, it's now back with more cases in 18 months than the prior 25 years combined!

Sadly, as Dr Racine notes, children are bearing the brunt, with around 70% of cases in 2026 occurring in those under 20 years old, and nearly all patients unvaccinated.

The CDC may well call it an “avoidable public health failure" but the US seems determined to prove that ideology can 'trump' basic public health.

This isn’t innovation, it’s regression!

Shocking. So, eating racoon penis doesn't make you immune? Dang!

2/3rds of America think this is stupid.

1/3 thinks it's very smart and would never happen to them...

Measles are just MAGA makeup 🙃

America is turning into a sick country under this regime , not only Measles,

but explosive diarrhea , must drink more raw milk and eat road kill ,to get healthy

again 🤧

regards worgeordie

Unsurprising, the South is badly hit. Poor and backward, they didn't vaccinate their kids.

Listening to Pretend Dr.Prof. and former heroin addict RFK jr tends to lead to the issues America faces now. Don't forget, he had his own children vaccinated. He just doesn't care about others.

6 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Unsurprising, the South is badly hit. Poor and backward, they didn't vaccinate their kids.

Listening to Pretend Dr.Prof. and former heroin addict RFK jr tends to lead to the issues America faces now. Don't forget, he had his own children vaccinated. He just doesn't care about others.

He doesn't believe in vaccines. He believes in healthy food to prevent illness. A good call for some illnesses... except...

3 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

The US measles surge is the logical endgame of America’s “freedom experiment” in not vaccinating.

Though declared eliminated in 2000, it's now back with more cases in 18 months than the prior 25 years combined!

Sadly, as Dr Racine notes, children are bearing the brunt, with around 70% of cases in 2026 occurring in those under 20 years old, and nearly all patients unvaccinated.

The CDC may well call it an “avoidable public health failure" but the US seems determined to prove that ideology can 'trump' basic public health.

This isn’t innovation, it’s regression!

So you don't figure it has anything to do with the tens of millions of unvetted and unvaccinated 3rd worlders who came in under Biden?

46 minutes ago, impulse said:

So you don't figure it has anything to do with the tens of millions of unvetted and unvaccinated 3rd worlders who came in under Biden?

Aaah, Biden is fault...

The US government under Trump has drastically slashed funding for health and basic research such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and ideological mandates regarding the allocation of funds.

Laboratories are downsizing, and top researchers are leaving US universities to work in Europe or other regions instead.

While the CDC maintains its recommendation for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, other universal childhood vaccination recommendations have been dropped, campaigns halted, and skepticism stoked - leading to the highest measles case counts in decades and lawsuits from states.

I remember back in the 1960s/70s there was no measles vaccine and getting measles was just something you went through and it gave you lifelong immunity. Somehow we all survived.

2 hours ago, nexus7 said:

I remember back in the 1960s/70s there was no measles vaccine and getting measles was just something you went through and it gave you lifelong immunity. Somehow we all survived.

And got the upper arm scars to prove it !

Con: Disease outbreak

Pro: Future knuckle-draggers dying in their cots.

10 hours ago, impulse said:

So you don't figure it has anything to do with the tens of millions of unvetted and unvaccinated 3rd worlders who came in under Biden?

Surprise surprise! A lie! 😁

9 hours ago, candide said:

Surprise surprise! A lie! 😁

What's that? Are you claiming they checked for vaccination paperwork at the open border?

Remember how dystopian it was when we weren't allowed to eat out or go to the beach, but the "newcomers" had complete freedom of movement? When protesting the vaccine mandates got your bank account frozen, but protesting the police was fine?

Edited July 26Jul 26 by impulse

13 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

And got the upper arm scars to prove it !

I thought arm scars were from smallpox vaccine.....measles does not leave a scar, fwiw (not much)

I'm from 50's kids and most of us got measles, and mumps, etc and smallpox vaccine (first used in 1796)

and poster who wrote 'Somehow we all survived."During the 1950s, the United States averaged nearly 500 measles deaths and over 500,000 reported cases each year, though actual infections reached an estimated 3 to 4 million annually" We don't hear from the dead ones, so assumption no one died somewhat understandable... kept numbers under wraps because didn't want a panic I suppose. Vaccine did come along til 1963. Previously Over 95% of children contracted measles by age 15 before the first vaccine was licensed in 1963.

4 hours ago, Emdog said:

I thought arm scars were from smallpox vaccine.....measles does not leave a scar, fwiw (not much)

Vaccines& Immunizations

I'm from 50's kids and most of us got measles, and mumps, etc and smallpox vaccine (first used in 1796)

and poster who wrote 'Somehow we all survived."During the 1950s, the United States averaged nearly 500 measles deaths and over 500,000 reported cases each year, though actual infections reached an estimated 3 to 4 million annually" We don't hear from the dead ones, so assumption no one died somewhat understandable... kept numbers under wraps because didn't want a panic I suppose. Vaccine did come along til 1963. Previously Over 95% of children contracted measles by age 15 before the first vaccine was licensed in 1963.

Thanks I have the scar but forgot what it was for !

Actually for me Polio was the scary one as I knew someone who sadly became
lame -forever . Strangely he was a chirpy guy and always happy !

I was never vaccinated for measles.

Not that I refused the vaccine.

The vaccine was not available.

Now that we have the vaccine, we also have an increase in FOOLS, who weirdly refuse the gift they are offered.

Anyone seen an explanation for this event from Stiddle Mump or Red Phoenix? .................they of the "no such thing as viruses/bacteria" brigade?

6 hours ago, impulse said:

What's that? Are you claiming they checked for vaccination paperwork at the open border?

MedicalFacilities & Services

Remember how dystopian it was when we weren't allowed to eat out or go to the beach, but the "newcomers" had complete freedom of movement? When protesting the vaccine mandates got your bank account frozen, but protesting the police was fine?

6 hours ago, impulse said:

What's that? Are you claiming they checked for vaccination paperwork at the open border?

MedicalFacilities & Services

Remember how dystopian it was when we weren't allowed to eat out or go to the beach, but the "newcomers" had complete freedom of movement? When protesting the vaccine mandates got your bank account frozen, but protesting the police was fine?

6 hours ago, impulse said:

What's that? Are you claiming they checked for vaccination paperwork at the open border?

MedicalFacilities & Services

Remember how dystopian it was when we weren't allowed to eat out or go to the beach, but the "newcomers" had complete freedom of movement? When protesting the vaccine mandates got your bank account frozen, but protesting the police was fine?

There were not tens of millions new illegal immigrants under Biden. You are just propagating Trump's lies.

About your other claim what is your evidence that the recently ill people are illegal immigrants who entered the US under Biden? 😃

17 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

Anyone seen an explanation for this event from Stiddle Mump or Red Phoenix? .................they of the "no such thing as viruses/bacteria" brigade?

Oddly they are quiet. @Stiddle Mump @Red Phoenix

Just now, josephbloggs said:

Oddly they are quiet. @Stiddle Mump @Red Phoenix

Maybe in bed with measles?

7 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

Maybe in bed with measles?

InfectiousDiseases

I have to congratulate AN for finding a little bit of screen space that is not already covered by advertisements - they can now squeeze them in to people's posts. Amazing work.

On 7/26/2026 at 2:14 PM, MIke B Bad said:

Maybe in bed with measles?

Measles is not a disease, illness or sickness. It is the body getting itself back into balance.

The symptoms of measles are the cure.

On 7/26/2026 at 1:55 PM, MIke B Bad said:

Anyone seen an explanation for this event from Stiddle Mump or Red Phoenix? .................they of the "no such thing as viruses/bacteria" brigade?

Of course there are bacteria. It's nature's clean up brigade.

You are quite right about viruses Sir. They have never been shown to exist outside a 'ologist's petri-dish or computer.

Nature rules!

1 hour ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Of course there are bacteria. It's nature's clean up brigade.

You are quite right about viruses Sir. They have never been shown to exist outside a 'ologist's petri-dish or computer.

Nature rules!

So just for me to verify...

You really believe that the following viruses only exist in labs (petri dishes) or computers?

• Colds (rhinoviruses and coronaviruses),

• the flu (influenza),

• COVID-19,

• herpes infections,

• chickenpox

• classic childhood diseases such as measles and mumps

A yes or no would be enough for me personally...

Edited July 27Jul 27 by Schoggibueb
Typo

On 7/25/2026 at 1:23 PM, Autocan said:

Con: Disease outbreak

Pro: Future knuckle-draggers dying in their cots.

You sound like you were a cheerleader for the clot shot.

On 7/26/2026 at 2:58 AM, Emdog said:

I thought arm scars were from smallpox vaccine.....measles does not leave a scar, fwiw (not much)

I'm from 50's kids and most of us got measles, and mumps, etc and smallpox vaccine (first used in 1796)

and poster who wrote 'Somehow we all survived."During the 1950s, the United States averaged nearly 500 measles deaths and over 500,000 reported cases each year, though actual infections reached an estimated 3 to 4 million annually" We don't hear from the dead ones, so assumption no one died somewhat understandable... kept numbers under wraps because didn't want a panic I suppose. Vaccine did come along til 1963. Previously Over 95% of children contracted measles by age 15 before the first vaccine was licensed in 1963.

"During the 1950s, the United States averaged nearly 500 measles deaths and over 500,000 reported cases each year, though actual infections reached an estimated 3 to 4 million annually"

500 deaths out of 4 million cases is a 0.01% fatality rate, not particularly high.

Trillions of tax dollars spent by america in the last 50 years ...but a bit like most other developped countries, not much spent for the well being of their own and domestic issues. Disgraceful and Shame on all such nations, including those in western europe or the UK.

1 hour ago, Schoggibueb said:

So just for me to verify...

You really believe that the following viruses only exist in labs (petri dishes) or computers?

• Colds (rhinoviruses and coronaviruses),

• the flu (influenza),

• COVID-19,

• herpes infections,

• chickenpox

• classic childhood diseases such as measles and mumps

A yes or no would be enough for me personally..

Yes! You are reading me correctly Sir.

The 'complaints' you list in your post are not, in any way, caused by a virus, In fact they are all different symptoms of the body getting itself back into tip-top condition.

If you would like more info, don't hesitate to post.

Nature is us. We are nature.