The U.S. has reported 982 measles cases so far in 2026, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s over four times the cases from the same period last year, when a significant outbreak was just starting in West Texas.
This year, 26 states have confirmed cases. Large outbreaks are notably increasing in Utah, Arizona, and especially South Carolina, where the outbreak began last fall. Nearly 800 cases have been reported in South Carolina since January, with the total now at 973.
It’s the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in a generation. Dr. Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, indicated that at least 20 individuals have been hospitalized.
“Some of these hospitalizations are among both adults and children,” Bell mentioned during a briefing on Wednesday. “Other cases needed medical attention for measles, but they weren’t hospitalized.”
The CDC reports that over 10% of measles cases in 2025 led to hospitalization, mostly in children and teens.
In Florida, cases are rising as well, with the health department noting 92 cases this year. Sixty-six of these are from Collier County, primarily at Ave Maria University near Naples.
A graduate student, Blaise Carney, shared he was among the first on campus to fall ill last month. He recounted, “It started with an ear infection. Then, I had sniffles, a sore throat, and it just got worse until I ended up in the ER with a full-body rash.”
Diving into specifics, Carney explained he was diagnosed with both measles and strep throat simultaneously and received IV fluids in the ER. Luckily, he didn’t require hospital admission but isolated in his dorm for a week.
Interestingly, Carney had received the vaccine against the illness as a child.
According to the CDC, two doses of the measles vaccine—administered around age 1 and again around age 5—are 97% effective in preventing measles, which typically lasts for life. Yet, about 3% of vaccinated individuals can still contract the disease.
Despite his experience, Carney emphasized that the data strongly supports vaccinations. He urged, “If you haven’t been vaccinated, please do so. It may not guarantee complete prevention, but it’s your best option.”
The vast majority of reported measles cases involve unvaccinated individuals.
While most recover, some face long-lasting health issues after their symptoms subside. The virus affects immune system cells, making individuals more susceptible to future illnesses.
In rare cases, severe brain inflammation can develop 7 to 10 years post-infection, known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is usually fatal.
This past Saturday, doctors at Children’s Hospital of Orange County in California detailed a case published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It chronicled a 7-year-old boy who was hospitalized after months of worsening seizures and cognitive difficulties.
This boy had contracted measles as an infant in Afghanistan, where the virus remains uncontained. As vaccination rates decline, the U.S. could lose its elimination status this year.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the child was unable to speak and exhibited abnormal muscle reflexes, indicating serious neurological issues. He was diagnosed with SSPE, leading to his death within a year of his initial symptoms.
Before measles was eradicated in the U.S., the CDC estimated that 7 to 11 individuals out of every 100,000 faced the risk of SSPE, and this risk may be higher for those infected before turning two.
