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US measles outbreak hits 35‑year high with 2,318 cases
The United States has recorded 2,318 confirmed measles cases as of late July 2026, the highest annual total since 1991 and a 35‑year record. The surge exceeds the 2,289 cases reported for the entire year of 2025, despite more than five months remaining in the current year.
Outbreaks are concentrated in states with vaccination coverage below the 95 % herd‑immunity threshold, notably South Carolina (≈670 cases), Utah (≈520), Texas (≈190), Virginia (≈176) and Pennsylvania (≈134). Over 90 % of patients are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, primarily children and adolescents.
Public‑health officials warn that the country could lose its measles‑elimination status, which has been in place since 2000, if transmission continues. “High vaccination coverage has protected even the unvaccinated because of herd protection,” said Dr. William Moss of Johns Hopkins. The health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced criticism for down‑playing vaccine safety and reducing funding for immunity programs.
Experts stress that restoring national vaccination rates to at least 95 % is essential to halt further spread, as the disease remains one of the most contagious viral infections.