US measles cases reach 4,410 this year as the outbreak keeps growing, CDC says

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday, 16 October that 4,410 confirmed measles cases had been reported in the United States in 2026 as of 15 October — an increase of 330 from its update a week earlier, Reuters reported.

Key figures

• Cases were reported by 47 jurisdictions, plus 18 cases among international visitors.
• There have been 42 new outbreaks (three or more related cases) this year, and 96% of confirmed cases (4,228) are outbreak-associated — 2,844 from outbreaks that began in 2026 and 1,384 from outbreaks that started in 2025.
• Measles-related hospitalisations this year stand at 451.
• Children and teenagers aged 5 to 19 are the largest group, with 1,856 cases (42%), followed by adults 20 and older with 1,787 (41%).
• Pennsylvania has reported 1,222 cases and 225 hospitalisations as of 14 October, and five measles-related deaths, according to state data cited by Reuters. The CDC says it has confirmed two measles-associated deaths nationally in 2026 without naming the states, and has said it will send more support to Pennsylvania.
• Earlier in October New York declared a disaster emergency over measles, the first such declaration by a US state.

What to keep in mind

The CDC counts only confirmed cases notified by states, so numbers lag behind local reports and probable cases are excluded. Reuters notes that the CDC recently switched to national mortality statistics for measles deaths instead of state reports, a change that has drawn scrutiny — which helps explain why federal and state death counts differ. Measles is highly contagious; two doses of the MMR vaccine are the standard protection, and anyone unsure of their status should check with a doctor.