The United States is experiencing a surge in measles cases, with 982 confirmed infections reported in 2026 as of February 19th, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This figure already surpasses the total number of cases recorded during the same period in 2025, when a significant outbreak began in West Texas.
Twenty-six states have reported measles cases this year, with particularly large outbreaks concentrated in Utah, Arizona, and South Carolina. South Carolina is currently experiencing the most severe outbreak, with nearly 800 cases reported since the beginning of the year, bringing the state’s total to 973. Dr. Linda Bell, a state epidemiologist in South Carolina, stated that at least 20 individuals have been hospitalized due to the virus. “These hospitalizations affect both adults and children,” she said during a press briefing on Wednesday. Additional cases have required medical attention without hospitalization.
Florida is too seeing a rise in cases, with 92 reported since the start of the year, primarily within Collier County and centered around Ave Maria University near Naples. Blaise Carney, a graduate student at the university, described his experience to NBC affiliate WBBH, detailing an initial ear infection that progressed to include a sore throat, and ultimately a full-body rash requiring emergency room treatment. Carney was diagnosed with both measles and strep throat, received intravenous fluids, and was subsequently isolated in his dormitory for a week. He had been vaccinated as a child, highlighting that vaccination does not guarantee complete protection.
The CDC reports that in 2025, more than one in ten measles cases required hospitalization, with children and adolescents being disproportionately affected. Approximately 89% of the 982 confirmed cases in 2026 are linked to ongoing outbreaks, stemming from both 2026 and 2025. In 2025, a total of 2,281 confirmed measles cases were reported across the United States, spanning 45 jurisdictions.
The resurgence of measles is attributed to declining vaccination rates and increased mobility across state lines. The CDC emphasizes that the measles vaccine offers 97% protection, with two doses – administered at age one and five – generally providing lifelong immunity. But, up to 3% of vaccinated individuals may still contract the disease under intense exposure. Prior to the virus’s near-eradication in the U.S., the CDC estimated between seven and eleven cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal neurological complication, occurred per 100,000 measles infections.
Carney urged vaccination, stating, “If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated. It might not protect you 100%, but it’s your best option.” The CDC continues to recommend widespread vaccination as the primary means of controlling the spread of the virus.