U.S. Measles Cases Double 2025's Total: Where Outbreaks Stand Now

In its October 23 weekly update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4,588 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of October 22, 2026 — more than double the 2,289 confirmed cases recorded in all of 2025.

According to CDC's data, 4,570 cases have been reported by 47 jurisdictions (45 states plus New York City and the District of Columbia), along with 18 cases among international visitors to the United States. CDC has recorded 43 new outbreaks in 2026, and 96% of confirmed cases (4,404 of 4,588) are outbreak-associated — including 3,020 cases from outbreaks that started in 2026 and 1,384 from outbreaks that began in 2025.

As CIDRAP notes in its analysis of the CDC report, the nation added 178 confirmed cases in the past week and 508 over the past two weeks — more in two weeks than the 465 total cases reported nationwide from 2022 through 2024 combined. Per CDC's age and vaccination breakdown cited by CIDRAP, 17% of 2026 cases are in children under age 5, 42% are in children and teens ages 5 to 19, 10% of patients overall have been hospitalized (including 16% of children under 5), and 96% of confirmed cases have occurred in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

Where measles activity is concentrated right now

Pennsylvania: 1,338 cases across 44 counties

Pennsylvania accounts for the largest share of U.S. cases this year. In its October 23, 2026 statewide update, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,338 confirmed cases across 44 counties (up 21 since October 21, with Crawford County added to the list of counties with confirmed cases) and 255 total hospitalizations. Four cases (less than 1% of the state's total) have been reported among vaccinated individuals.

At the same time, Pennsylvania DOH reports a substantial increase in residents seeking vaccination. Health care providers across the Commonwealth typically administer about 25,000 MMR doses in a month; according to DOH's October 23 release, providers administered more than 56,000 doses in September and more than 39,000 doses in the first three weeks of October. In addition, DOH nurses have administered more than 10,300 MMR doses in 2026 across state health centers and 226 pop-up vaccination clinics in affected communities (PA DOH). Check the PA DOH measles page and dashboard for county-level updates.

New York: 162 cases outside NYC and a statewide disaster emergency

In New York State, measles reporting is split between New York City and the rest of the state:

• New York State (excluding NYC): The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Measles Dashboard (updated October 20, 2026, with data as of October 17, 2026) reports 162 confirmed cases in 2026 across 25 counties, including 6 new cases in the most recent week. The highest county totals on the NYSDOH dashboard are in Seneca County (30), Otsego County (21), Steuben County (19), Lewis County (15), Oswego County (11), and Madison County (10).
• New York City: The NYC Health Department reports 7 confirmed cases in New York City in 2026 as of October 23, 2026.

To support local health departments responding to the rise in cases, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order No. 65 declaring a statewide disaster emergency effective October 5 through November 4, 2026. Under the order, New York temporarily expands who can administer MMR vaccinations under non-patient-specific orders — allowing pharmacists to vaccinate children two years of age and older, and authorizing certified paramedics, advanced EMS providers, and midwives to administer MMR subject to state health conditions. The order also permits registered nurses to order specimen collection and laboratory testing for suspected measles cases and requires providers to report all MMR doses (for children and adults) to state or city immunization registries within 72 hours (Governor's Office).

Utah: No new cases diagnosed in the past three weeks

Utah experienced one of the largest multi-month outbreaks earlier in the 2025–2026 wave. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) dashboard (report date October 20, 2026), Utah has recorded 527 confirmed cases in 2026 (and 724 cumulative cases since the start of 2025), with 0 Utah residents diagnosed with measles in the last three weeks. South Carolina's earlier Upstate outbreak was declared over by the South Carolina Department of Public Health in late April 2026.

Why CDC and Pennsylvania death counts differ

If you compare national and state dashboards, you will see two different numbers for 2026 measles deaths. It is important to keep them separate and not add them together:

• CDC's national 2026 death tally lists 3* deaths (CDC). CDC marks this figure with an asterisk and notes that the number is provisional and subject to change as additional information becomes available and relevant reviews are completed.
• Pennsylvania DOH reports 5 confirmed measles-associated deaths in 2026 under the state's epidemiological definition (PA DOH). PA DOH has also stated that a recently reported death in Franklin County remains under investigation to determine whether it meets all state criteria for a measles-associated death.

Because federal and state agencies follow different review and reporting timelines before adding deaths to their official tallies, we attribute each count directly to its source rather than combining them.

Practical steps to protect your household

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is about 93% effective, according to CDC. Whether you live near an active outbreak or are planning upcoming travel, public health officials recommend checking your family's vaccination records now:

• Routine schedule for children: CDC recommends a first MMR dose at 12 through 15 months of age and a second dose at 4 through 6 years of age (or earlier, provided at least 28 days have passed since the first dose).
• Early dose for infants 6 through 11 months: For babies who live in or travel to counties where health officials recommend early vaccination due to sustained community transmission — or before any international travel — CDC and state health departments recommend an early "zero dose" of MMR. This early dose does not replace the two routine doses after the first birthday. Read our full guide: Early MMR Dose for Babies 6–11 Months: What Parents Should Know.
• Adults checking their status: Most adults born in 1957 or later need at least one documented dose of MMR unless they have other presumptive evidence of immunity. Adults in higher-risk settings — including healthcare personnel, college students, international travelers, and groups identified by public health authorities during an outbreak — generally need two documented doses. In Pennsylvania and New York, health officials advise adults who have only one dose or cannot locate their records to speak with a health care provider or pharmacist. See our adult MMR guide and Do Adults Need a Second MMR Dose?
• If you suspect an exposure or symptoms: Call your health care provider, urgent care, or emergency department before arriving in person so staff can prevent potential exposure in waiting rooms. CDC says MMR given within 72 hours of initial exposure (or immune globulin within 6 days for certain high-risk individuals, such as infants under 6 months or pregnant people without immunity) may provide some protection or make the illness milder.

Need to find records or a clinic? Visit our Vaccine Finder for walk-in pharmacies, community health centers, state immunization registries, and free or low-cost vaccination options through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

Sources

• CDC: Measles Cases and Outbreaks (data as of October 22, 2026)
• CIDRAP: US measles cases hit 4,588, more than twice last year's total (October 23, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Department of Health: Statewide Update on Measles Outbreak as Cases Reach 1,338 in 44 Counties (October 23, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Department of Health: Measles Dashboard and Guidance
• New York State Department of Health: Measles Dashboard (updated October 20, 2026; data as of October 17, 2026)
• New York State Governor Kathy Hochul: Executive Order No. 65 (October 5–November 4, 2026)
• NYC Health Department: Measles Cases in NYC (as of October 23, 2026)
• Utah Department of Health and Human Services: Utah Measles Dashboard (report date October 20, 2026)

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician, pediatrician, pharmacist, or local health department for medical decisions regarding your household.