US measles cases reach 35-year high, for second record-breaking year in a row - KSL.com

What the report says

KSL.com reported that measles cases in the United States have reached a 35-year high in 2026, topping last year’s record before the year is half over. Citing U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the report said at least 2,318 cases had been recorded, already exceeding the nearly 2,300 cases reported in 2025. The disease was considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but the article said the past 18 months have produced more cases than the previous 25 years combined.

The resurgence is concentrated largely among children and people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, a group that accounts for more than 90% of cases, according to the CDC figures cited. South Carolina has reported the most cases this year after a Spartanburg County outbreak that began in October and ended in April with nearly 1,000 cases. KSL.com also described a possible exposure at a Spartanburg church brunch, where contact tracing and high vaccination coverage appeared to help prevent further spread.

The report said outbreaks that began in 2025 have continued into 2026, including one along the Utah-Arizona state line that has lasted more than a year. International health officials are expected to consider that duration when assessing whether the U.S. can still claim measles elimination status. KSL.com also reported 35 new outbreaks this year, with cases in all but seven states.

Public health officials quoted in the report warned that measles response requires extensive contact tracing, staffing and community coordination. Examples from San Francisco and Virginia illustrated how even a small number of cases can strain local health departments, while Virginia’s Buckingham County outbreak has grown to more than 150 linked cases.