It used to be that 200-plus US measles cases would reflect the total for the year or even for two years, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed 264 new cases in just the past seven days, raising the country’s total to 4,852 cases, by far the highest yearly total in 35 years.
The new data mark the 12th straight week of triple-digit increases nationwide. Rising cases in multiple states have contributed to the escalation, but Pennsylvania continues to be the nation’s hot spot, logging 88 new cases this week, followed closely by Wisconsin.
The United States will very likely lose its measles elimination status—which it gained in 2000—in the coming month. Even an analysis published in May, when the country had only around 1,800 cases, said as much.
The CDC has logged 43 measles outbreaks across the country so far this year, compared with 48 for all of last year, which saw 2,289 cases by year’s end. An outbreak involves three or more people. All but 18 infections this year have been locally acquired, with the rest involving international travelers.
Of the confirmed cases, 17% have been in children under the age of 5 years, and 41% have been in kids and teens ages 5 to 19. Eleven percent of cases overall have required hospitalization, a number that has been slowly climbing and now matches the 2025 rate. Hospitalization rates are highest in preschoolers (16%), with a 14% rate in adults 20 and older.
Though the CDC continues to acknowledge just three measles deaths this year, Pennsylvania has reported five, with a sixth death in that state under investigation.
The vast majority of confirmed cases (96%) have been in people who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.
Illnesses surge in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana
In its ongoing outbreak, this week Pennsylvania confirmed 88 new cases and 1,426 total cases, by far the largest state outbreak the nation has seen since the early 1990s. Lancaster County continues to be the epicenter, with 493 cases now. Mifflin is second with 205 cases, followed by Chester (93) and Jefferson (88).
As opposed to the national trend, 67% of reported cases in Pennsylvania have involved adults.
The state’s outbreak doesn’t appear to be slowing, despite a statement from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. two weeks ago that he will bring it “to a quick close.” An Associated Press story today, however, said more of the state’s residents are open to vaccination, including those in hard-hit Amish communities.
Wisconsin saw another large jump this week, with 82 new cases and 392 total. Of those cases, 336, or 86% of the total, have been confirmed in Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Vernon counties in southwestern Wisconsin. State and county officials in that area “are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the measles virus,” the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said. Chippewa County has 33 infections.
Neighboring Minnesota has reached its highest measles total in 36 years, the Minnesota Department of Health reported yesterday. The state now has 80 cases, with 38 new cases in the past week.
“The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is well-tested, highly effective, and provides long-lasting protection,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD. “We strongly advise anyone who is recommended to receive the MMR vaccine and has not been vaccinated to contact their healthcare provider and get vaccinated now.”
The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is well-tested, highly effective, and provides long-lasting protection.
The disease is also surging in Indiana. With 47 newly confirmed cases, the state is just shy of 100 for the year. Today the Indiana Department of Public Health listed 97 known measles infections, with the most in LaGrange (22 cases), Adams (17), and Wayne (16) counties.
Ohio confirmed 30 more infections this week, and 296 total. New York state has eight new cases, lifting its count to 170. Finally, Iowa, which before August 16 had only one case for 2026, has now recorded 42, according to Iowa Health and Human Services. Last year Iowa had nine measles cases.
Cases in Kentucky have now reached 201, the state health department reported todaywith four new cases this past week. Last year the state recorded only 11 measles infections. The hardest-hit counties are Christian (65 cases), Laurel (56), and Trigg (31).
Source: www.cidrap.umn.edu
