US sees largest measles outbreak since 1991 — 5,182 cases in 2026

On 7 November 2026 U.S. health authorities reported that the country is confronting its largest measles outbreak since 1991, with 5,182 confirmed cases recorded so far this year and the first infant death in Wisconsin in more than three decades.

Scope and recent trends

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the 5,182 confirmed infections make 2026 the worst year for measles in the United States in over 35 years. By comparison, the entire 2025 calendar year saw 2,289 reported cases — fewer than half the number documented to date in 2026.

Wisconsin health officials announced that a newborn has died of measles, the state’s first measles-related death in more than thirty years. Kirsten Johnson, the state health director, commented on the loss: "The death of a child is always a tragedy," she said, "and even more so when it's linked to a disease that can be prevented by vaccination." Johnson urged residents "to protect themselves and their families."

New York has also been severely affected: the state reported its first measles death in three decades and Governor Kathy Hochul declared a public health emergency in October as cases surged across the state.

Measles had been declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but growing vaccine hesitancy in recent years has contributed to outbreaks. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was appointed to a health position by President Donald Trump, is widely known for his outspoken skepticism about vaccines.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that typically causes high fever and a red rash; it can also lead to serious complications, including inflammation of the membranes around the brain (meningitis). Public health officials continue to emphasize vaccination as the primary tool to control transmission.

Photo: press material from the event