US Measles Cases Hit 2,318 in 2026, Worst Count Since 1991

The US has recorded 2,318 measles cases in 2026, surpassing last year's record and reaching the worst level in 35 years.

The United States has now recorded 2,318 measles infections in 2026, making it the worst year for the disease since 1991 — a milestone that surpasses the record set just the previous year, 2025. The case count continues to climb, with no indication the outbreak has peaked. Measles had been declared eliminated in the US in 2000, meaning sustained domestic transmission was considered broken, making any large resurgence significant by historical standards. A former CDC official has publicly warned that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership of federal health agencies has weakened the country's capacity to respond to the current measles outbreak and to contain future infectious disease events. The official's specific criticisms were not detailed in the available reporting beyond that general assessment.

Why it matters

Measles is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease, and case counts at this scale signal declining herd immunity and reduced public health response capacity. A return to pre-elimination transmission levels would represent a significant public health reversal for the US.

What's next

Case counts are still rising, so the final 2026 total remains to be seen; public health officials and observers will be watching whether federal or state responses change the trajectory.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

The Guardian focused on the epidemiological milestone and case numbers. MS NOW foregrounded political criticism of RFK Jr. through a former CDC official, without providing specific details of what policy decisions or actions prompted the warning. Neither source provided a response or stated rationale from RFK Jr. or his office, leaving that side of the story unrepresented.

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