vaccination rates

US measles cases reached a 35-year high with 2,295 recorded this year, surpassing the total for 2025. 93% of patients are unvaccinated, and declining vaccination rates have pushed most counties below herd immunity levels. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, and President Donald Trump are mentioned in the context of shifting positions on vaccine messaging.

Measles cases in the US by mid-July 2026 exceeded all 2025 cases, driven by low vaccination rates and public forgetting of the disease's severity. Experts warn that reduced immunization and complacency about risks are fueling the outbreak.

The US is experiencing its highest number of measles cases in decades with declining vaccination rates, prompting researchers to develop treatments for those infected or at risk.

Measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 35-year high, surpassing 2025 totals with 2,318 confirmed cases as of July 23, 2026. The outbreak is linked to declining vaccination rates below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks in 44 states and D.C., with South Carolina and Utah reporting the most cases.

The U.S. has recorded 2,318 measles cases in 2026 as of Thursday, surpassing the 2025 total of 2,289 cases. Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona have contributed to 2026 becoming the worst year for measles since 1991. Declining vaccination rates, now at 92.5% among kindergartners, have exacerbated undercounted spread, with experts suggesting outbreaks may be three to four times larger than reported.

The U.S. has recorded 2,318 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the 2025 total of 2,289 cases, marking the worst outbreak since 1991. Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona have contributed to the surge, with experts warning of undercounted cases due to low vaccination rates and incomplete reporting.

The U.S. has reported 2,318 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the 2025 record of 2,289 cases, with major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona. Declining vaccination rates below the 95% threshold have contributed to the surge, and experts warn the true spread may be undercounted due to incomplete data and low reporting.

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.

The U.S. has already recorded more measles cases in 2026 (2,318 as of Friday) than in all of 2025 (2,289), with major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona. Declining vaccination rates below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks and undercounted cases due to unreported illnesses are contributing to the crisis.

The U.S. has reported 2,318 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the 2025 total of 2,289, making it the worst year since 1991. Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona have driven the surge, with declining vaccination rates below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. International health officials will assess if the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles-free status in November.

Measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 35-year high, driven by declining vaccination rates and domestic outbreaks. The CDC is finalizing a report indicating the U.S. may no longer meet criteria for measles elimination, with Utah’s outbreak lasting over a year and causing severe health complications, including hospitalizations and deaths.

Two new measles cases have been reported in Chester County, Pennsylvania, as part of a regional outbreak affecting multiple counties with 77 cases since late April. Declining vaccination rates are contributing to increased vulnerability, with Pennsylvania recording 89 cases in 2026 compared to 16 in 2025 and 6 in 2024. The Chester County Health Department is implementing contact tracing and quarantine protocols.

Vaccination rates in Texas schools have been declining, with the article advising readers to check their district's latest rates. Highland Village Elementary is cited as an example, referencing kindergarten students in 2020.

Two children have died from measles, with over 700 people infected this year as vaccination rates decline and cases increase. The surge in infections is linked to dropping vaccination rates.

A study in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report details a severe Texas measles outbreak, showing 20% hospitalization rates, contradicting anti-vaccine claims that measles is 'just a rash.' Declining vaccination rates linked to rising anti-vaccine rhetoric, including from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have fueled large outbreaks of preventable diseases.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before Congress defending President Trump’s 2027 budget, which proposes a 12% cut to HHS funding, while deflecting blame for declining vaccination rates and measles outbreaks. Kennedy attributed the issues to global trends and loss of public trust in government health guidance, despite critics linking his past anti-vaccine advocacy to eroded trust in federal health agencies.

The new COVID-19 subvariant 'Cicada' (BA.3.2) is emerging, raising concerns as vaccination rates among seniors remain a critical issue due to their heightened susceptibility to the virus.

Romania is experiencing a surge in measles cases, driven by collapsing vaccination rates and systemic healthcare bottlenecks. A clinic in Săcele, Transylvania, highlights the strain, with one doctor serving over 30,000 people. A 2024 measles outbreak in the area resulted in the death of an unvaccinated toddler.

California in 2026 has reported its highest annual measles cases in seven years, driven by declining vaccination rates. The resurgence highlights a growing public health concern as the disease reemerges nationwide.