US measles cases reach 2,318, topping 2025 record with months left
Why it matters: The CDC count is the highest since 1991, with cases in 43 states and Washington, D.C.
U.S. measles cases climbed to 2,318 as of Thursday, surpassing the 2,289 recorded in all of 2025 and setting the highest yearly total since 1991, according to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The virus has spread across 43 states and Washington, D.C., with major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona. CDC figures show 93% of cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose status is unknown, while most infections have been among children and teens. National MMR coverage among kindergartners fell to 92.5% in the 2024-25 school year, below the 95% level public health officials say is needed to prevent outbreaks. International health officials are due to review in November whether the U.S. and Mexico still qualify as measles-free.