The United States is experiencing an unprecedented rise in measles cases, approaching 1,000 in just the first couple of months of 2026, which has raised concerns among healthcare workers.
As of Monday, more than 980 cases have been reported across 26 states, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This figure surpasses the total number of measles cases throughout all of 2025 by more than four times.
Virginia has recorded 10 cases, six of which involve children aged 0 to 4.
In Maryland, health officials have identified several locations where exposure may have occurred after individuals with confirmed measles cases traveled through the state in January and February. However, these cases aren’t linked, and Maryland hasn’t seen a confirmed measles case since March 2025.
Jennifer Walsh, an assistant professor at George Washington University’s School of Nursing, shared with WTOP that the highly contagious nature of measles is very concerning for pediatric providers.
She mentioned that unvaccinated individuals are particularly vulnerable to the disease. “If you’re unvaccinated and find yourself in a room even two hours after someone with measles, you have about a 90% chance of getting it,” she explained.
According to the CDC, severe complications from the disease can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, or even death. The data indicates that nearly 3 in every 1,000 children infected with measles may die from such complications.
This current increase in cases is occurring even though vaccines that have been effective against measles for many years are widely available.
Walsh noted that some families might choose not to vaccinate their children due to mixed messages regarding the safety of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and MMRV (which also protects against chickenpox) vaccines. Typically, medical professionals recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine for adequate protection.
As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Walsh emphasized the need for providers to address families’ questions and concerns about vaccine safety.
She recommended that healthcare providers engage with families to understand their concerns and identify what’s based on evidence versus misinformation they’ve encountered.
Families are often more willing to vaccinate their children after someone in their community experiences measles or when a confirmed case occurs nearby.
Walsh frequently shares her own parenting experience, reinforcing her stance on vaccination, saying, “For me and my family, vaccination was definitely what I did, and what I continue to recommend.”
