US measles cases surpass 4,000, with more than 25 percent coming from Pennsylvania
US measles cases surpass 4,000, with more than 25 percent coming from Pennsylvania
Mira Bhakta Sun, October 11, 2026 at 9:39 PM UTC
0
U.S. measles cases this year have surpassed 4,000, with more than 25 percent of the nation's reported infections coming from Pennsylvania, according to recently released data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC confirmed Friday that there are currently 4,080 measles cases reported across 47 states and the District of Columbia. Out of these reported infections, 1,105 originated in Pennsylvania — surpassing all other states.
This latest figure places Pennsylvania more than 400 cases beyond the state with the second-highest reported number of infections, South Carolina at 670.
The outbreak is the worst commonwealth has seen in more than 35 years and has subsequently sparked a public feud between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the Keystone State's reported deaths tied to measles.
The CDC describes measles as a highly contagious virus but adds that two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provide the best protection against the illness. The Pennsylvania Health Department states both doses together are 97 percent effective at preventing measles for life.
According to CDC data, 42 percent of cases across the U.S. this year were among children aged 5-19, while 17 percent were among children aged 5 and younger, and 40 percent were among people aged 20 and older.
Advertisement
The agency found that there have been 42 separate measles outbreaks so far in 2026, with 96 percent of confirmed cases being outbreak-associated. For all of 2025, there were 2,289 measles cases reported in the U.S. across 45 states and the District of Columbia.
The Pennsylvania Health Department has reported 5 measles-associated deaths as of the CDC's most recent update, but the federal agency is only reporting a two-person death toll. The discrepancy is the source of the bitter dispute between Shapiro and Kennedy, in which the two have clashed over what constitutes a measles death.
The CDC’s database does not specify where or when these two deaths occurred, so it’s not clear if the tally includes Pennsylvania’s reported cases. However, no other state has recorded a measles death this year.
“This number is subject to change. CDC will update its reporting as additional information becomes available and relevant reviews are completed,” the CDC's website says.
The ongoing measles outbreak caused New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Monday to declare her first statewide disaster emergency of 2026. New York has reported 97 cases this year, up from 26 in 2025, according to the CDC.
In 2025, three people in the U.S. died from measles — two in Texas and one in New Mexico.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
