The United States is facing a particularly significant resurgence of measles. According to the latest data published Friday, November 6, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5,182 cases have been confirmed since the beginning of 2026. This is the highest annual total recorded in the country since 1991, a period of thirty-five years. This increase comes after health authorities recorded 2,289 infections for the entire year of 2025, a year already marked by widespread transmission of the virus. The situation is causing growing concern among health professionals, who are warning of the return of a highly contagious disease, which is nevertheless preventable through vaccination. Children and adolescents are particularly affected, representing nearly 60% of those infected.
The scale of the epidemic is also reflected in its impact on hospitals. According to the CDC, 562 people have been hospitalized since January, representing approximately 11% of reported cases. Federal authorities have recorded four measles-related deaths in 2026, while several states report higher figures based on their own surveillance criteria. Pennsylvania is among the hardest-hit areas, with particularly high virus transmission. Other outbreaks have been identified in several states, including South Carolina, Utah, and Texas . In total, 43 outbreaks have been reported this year, and 96% of recorded infections are linked to these outbreaks. These figures demonstrate significant transmission within certain communities, despite measles having been officially declared eradicated from the United States in 2000.
The decline in vaccination rates promotes the resurgence of the disease.
Health authorities identify declining vaccination coverage as a major factor in this resurgence. According to the CDC, 96% of those infected in 2026 were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. The proportion of children vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) upon entering school fell from 95,2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92,4% in 2025-2026. This decline may seem small, but it represents a significant risk for a disease that is particularly contagious. Experts estimate that vaccination coverage of approximately 95% with two doses is necessary to sustainably prevent the virus from circulating in a population. When this threshold is no longer met, outbreaks can occur, particularly in communities where many children are unprotected.
The issue of vaccination also occupies a prominent place in the American political debate. Donald Trump's Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , is regularly criticized by doctors and infectious disease specialists for his past positions on vaccines. Several health professionals believe that the spread of misleading information and distrust of health institutions contribute to undermining prevention campaigns. Measles, however, is not a benign infection. It generally causes a high fever, cough, respiratory symptoms, and a rash, but can also lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and brain inflammation. Young children and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable to severe forms of the disease. Faced with this situation, health authorities reiterate that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection and limit hospitalizations. With more than 5,000 cases recorded in less than a year, the United States finds itself confronted with a health challenge that it thought it had largely controlled for several decades.
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