U.S. measles count nears 4,000 as Pennsylvania cases top 1,000
The U.S. has 3,887 confirmed measles cases this year, the CDC's latest count shows, far above all of 2025. Pennsylvania alone has 1,078 cases and five deaths, and new clusters keep turning up in places like southern Minnesota. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease, health officials say.
This year's U.S. measles count keeps climbing.
The CDC has counted 3,887 confirmed cases in 2026 as of Oct. 1, spread across 47 states and jurisdictions plus 18 international visitors. That is already well above the 2,289 cases reported in all of 2025. Johns Hopkins University, which keeps its own tally, puts the total above 4,000, WBIW reported.
Most cases come from outbreaks. The CDC lists 42 new outbreaks this year and says 95% of cases are linked to one.
Pennsylvania has been hit hardest. Its health department said Wednesday the state has 1,078 confirmed cases in 41 counties, with 207 hospitalizations and five deaths. More than 40 of the 74 newly added cases were people who got sick more than two weeks ago and were only recently reported, the department said, so the jump does not reflect a new surge. Only four of the state's cases were in vaccinated people.
New clusters keep popping up. Fillmore County in southern Minnesota now has six connected cases, all in people who were not vaccinated, KTTC reported. The county has among the lowest vaccination rates in the state. New York declared a statewide disaster emergency over measles on Oct. 5.
Measles can do lasting harm even after a patient seems to recover. It can trigger brain swelling weeks later, CIDRAP reported, and the recent death of an 18-year-old man in Pennsylvania was tied to that complication.
Demand for shots is up. Pennsylvania providers gave more than 56,000 MMR doses in September, more than double a typical month. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are 97% effective, health officials say. Adults with only one dose or no records can ask a doctor or pharmacist about getting vaccinated, Pennsylvania officials say.
What we know: The CDC count stands at 3,887, and Pennsylvania alone has reported 1,078 cases.
What we don't: Where the next CDC update will land and whether new outbreaks are slowing.
Where outlets agree WBIW and CIDRAP both report the CDC's 2026 measles count at 3,887 confirmed cases.
Where they differ CIDRAP reports five measles-associated deaths in the U.S. this year, while WBIW says CDC tracking lists two confirmed measles deaths nationwide.