[CLSTR]
< Back to all clusters
[HEALTH] · United States · 11 sources

started · updated

Part of situation: Global measles resurgence and US reporting disputes (121 clusters)

United States measles cases rise amid regional outbreaks

measles outbreak vaccination rates public health emergency CDC MMR vaccine

The United States is experiencing a significant rise in measles cases, with the CDC reporting 3,887 infections in 2026. Johns Hopkins University estimates the total number of infections has surpassed 4,000.

Pennsylvania leads the nation with over 1,000 cases, including a confirmed measles-associated death in Lancaster County. South Carolina follows with 670 cases, ranking second in the country. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a statewide disaster emergency due to accelerating transmission.

In Wisconsin, health officials are managing the state's worst outbreak in a decade, with 258 confirmed cases. Officials attribute declining vaccination rates to several factors, including changes to state exemption laws in the 1990s, social media misinformation, and a general decline in perceived necessity for the vaccine. In Lafayette County, only about two-thirds of children under age two have received a single dose of the measles vaccine, falling significantly below the national target of 95%.

Entities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Johns Hopkins University · Kathy Hochul · Pennsylvania · South Carolina

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order declaring a statewide disaster emergency due to accelerating measles transmission. www.wbiw.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Pennsylvania health officials confirmed a fifth measles-associated death in Lancaster County on September 30. www.wbiw.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The CDC has reported 3,887 measles cases nationwide in 2026. www.wbiw.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Johns Hopkins University reports that total measles infections have surpassed 4,000 across the United States. www.wbiw.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Wisconsin has recorded 258 confirmed measles cases this year. cbs58.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] In Lafayette County, only approximately two-thirds of children by age 2 have received one dose of the measles vaccine. cbs58.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] South Carolina has reported 670 measles cases so far this year. www.europesays.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Changes to Wisconsin state law in the 1990s regarding vaccine exemptions contributed to declining vaccination rates. cbs58.com

Sources

Health officials report 74 new measles cases in Pennsylvania [seacoastoldies.com]
South Carolina ranks second in measles cases as health officials urge vaccination [www.europesays.com]
Two Unvaccinated People Test Positive in Oneida County [lite987.com]
Two Unvaccinated People Test Positive in Oneida County [961theeagle.com]
US Measles Cases Top 4,000, Far Exceeding Last Year’s Total, CDC Says [internewscast.com]
Two Unvaccinated People Test Positive in Oneida County [wibx950.com]
Measles Update: October 9, 2026 | Contagion Live [www.contagionlive.com]
Measles has now been declared an emergency as it continues to spread [www.wbiw.com]
Public warned about possible measles exposure at several Chester County stores [6abc.com]
Chester County warns of possible measles exposure at multiple pharmacies [www.fox29.com]
Public health officials across the state highlight measles outbreak and what caused it [cbs58.com]