Map shows measles cases across U.S. as figure hits 35-year high
Confirmed measles cases in the country have reached their highest level in more than three decades, driven by declining vaccination rates and a series of growing outbreaks, according to federal health data.
Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the country has recorded 2,318 confirmed measles cases so far this year. The figure eclipses the total number of cases reported during all of 2025 and marks the highest annual total since 1991.
The sharp rise follows an elevated year in 2025, which saw 2,289 cases. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000—meaning continuous transmission of the virus had been stopped—but public health officials note that imported cases can spark outbreaks when they enter under-vaccinated communities.
According to the CDC, 35 new outbreaks have been reported this year, with 93 percent of confirmed cases linked to outbreaks. Officials have attributed the spread in part to declining immunization coverage. MMR vaccine coverage among kindergarten students fell from 95.2 percent during the 2019-20 school year to 92.5 percent during the 2024-25 school year. Health experts maintain that herd immunity requires roughly 95 percent coverage to prevent widespread transmission.
Newsweek contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via online form Saturday for comment.
CDC Map Tracks Measles Spread Across the Country
Infections have spanned multiple jurisdictions, with South Carolina reporting the highest number of cases at 670, followed by Utah with 522. Texas has recorded 188 cases, Virginia 176, Florida 141, Pennsylvania 134, and Arizona 108.
Children and teenagers bear the brunt of the surge, accounting for roughly 69 percent of confirmed infections among individuals aged 19 and younger, according to the CDC. Young children face higher risks of severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.
The CDC emphasizes that international travel remains the primary vehicle for introducing the virus domestically. The vast majority of imported cases stem from unvaccinated U.S. residents who contract the disease abroad, rather than international visitors, who accounted for only 16 cases this year, the agency said.
Political Fallout
The resurgence has intensified scrutiny on federal health leadership and sparked political debate.
Following the release of the data, some on social media called for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The backlash drew prominent political reactions, including a post on X from Senator Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, who wrote, “RFK Jr. should resign. And if he doesn’t resign, he ought to be fired.” Other critics have pointed to international travel and border policies as contributing factors.
As surveillance continues alongside state and local health departments, federal officials are urging the public to stay up to date on immunizations, emphasizing that the two-dose MMR vaccine remains the most effective defense against the highly contagious virus.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: John Fitzpatrick and Anthony Murray.
