The United States is experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991, with cases reaching a 35-year high. By July, the country has logged 2,318 cases, surpassing the record-breaking total of 2,289 reported for all of 2025.
Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona have sickened hundreds, while smaller clusters of cases have sparked in other states. These 2026 figures have already outpaced last year's totals and reached levels not seen in more than three decades.
Scientists warn that falling vaccination rates leave vulnerable groups, such as young children, more exposed to the disease. This increase occurs despite the fact that measles vaccines helped the U.S. eliminate the disease 26 years ago.