Dr. Brannon Traxler
Coverage of Dr. Brannon Traxler in the Nexus archive.
- There are already more U.S. measles cases this year than in all of 2025
The U.S. has recorded more measles cases in 2026 than in all of 2025, with major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona. Vaccination rates have dropped below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks, and experts warn official case counts are likely underestimates due to unreported cases and the virus's high contagiousness.
- There are already more US measles cases this year than in all of 2025
The U.S. has reported 2,318 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the 2025 record of 2,289 cases. Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona, along with declining vaccination rates below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks, have contributed to the surge. Undercounting of cases due to unreported illnesses and high contagion rates complicates tracking the true scope of the outbreak.