With 79 days to go, measles cases in the United States this year are already up 44% compared to 2025 and 1332% compared to 2024

 

Graph:  CDC

Headline:  Reuters, 10/9/2026

The US CDC on Friday reported 4,080 confirmed measles cases in the ​country as of October 8, up 193 ‌from a week earlier. 

Here are key details: 

• Twenty-six cases were identified among international visitors, according to the Centers for Disease Control ​and Prevention 

• Measles-related hospitalizations this year stand at ​414, or 10% f cases, compared with 244 hospitalizations ⁠in 2025 \ 

• The CDC has confirmed two measles-associated deaths in ​2026, though it has not identified the states involved, ​compared with three deaths in 2025 

• Separately, Pennsylvania health officials have reported five deaths linked to the state's measles outbreak this year 

• Last month, ​the CDC shifted to using mortality data from the ​National Center for Health Statistics for measles-related deaths, rather than relying ‌on ⁠state health departments, a change that has drawn scrutiny 

• As of October 9, the Pennsylvania health department has reported 1,136 measles cases in 2026, including 219 hospitalizations 

• Children ​and teenagers ​aged 5 ⁠to 19 accounted for the largest share of cases at 1,716, or 42% ​of infections, followed by adults aged 20 ​and ⁠older at 1,635 cases, or 40% 

• Earlier this week, New York declared a statewide disaster emergency over a measles outbreak ⁠after ​reporting 108 cases this year through ​October 3, including 92 cases since July 15

Related posts:

September 2026

Too little, too late:  Long-time spineless Louisiana GOP U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy M.D. now promotes erect posture,  (9/17)

Measles cases are still on the rise in Pennsylvania.  (9/13)

People are quickly learning that not being vaccinated has consequences (Pennsylvania measles outbreak edition).  (9/6)

Number of measles cases in Wisconsin increased 44% during past week.  (9/5)

In one week, the total number of measles cases in Pennsylvania increased 27%.  (9/3)

July-August 2026

So far in 2026, 95 of Wisconsin's 100 cases of measles have been reported in August.  (8/31)

Will medical illiterate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also deny that the total number of measles cases in Pennsylvania is up 31 and the number of new cases is up in the past two days?  (8/28)

Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports surge of measles cases.  (8/16)

Trump goes batshit crazy at yesterday's executive order signing.  (8/11)

Dear Louisiana GOP US Senator Bill Cassidy M.D.: You had a chance to prevent this quackery on February 13, 2025, but you misplaced your spine. Best, Retiring Guy.  (8/11)

Measles cases set new record:  This is the kind of moving backward that happens when a crackpot incompetent is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the county's top health official.  (7/25)