Measles cases in the United States remain elevated.

Officials report a record surge in measles cases in 2025 including three deaths, and outbreaks have continued into 2026; the Pan American Health Organization may review U.S. elimination status at its April meeting.

Recent measles outbreaks in the United States have increased case counts and drawn attention from public health officials. Officials reported a record surge in 2025 that included three deaths, the first reported U.S. measles deaths since 2015. The virus has continued to spread into 2026, with more cases reported in the first month than is typical for a full year. Childhood vaccination coverage has fallen below the national 95% target and varies by state. Key facts: - Health officials reported a record surge of measles cases in 2025, including three deaths. - Outbreaks have continued into 2026, with early-month case counts higher than is typical. - Notable 2025 outbreaks included a large cluster in West Texas and a separate, growing outbreak that began in upstate South Carolina in October 2025. - MMR vaccine series completion among kindergarteners declined from 95.2% in 2019-20 to 92.5% in 2024-25, leaving about 286,000 children reported at risk. Summary: The ongoing outbreaks have raised concern that the United States' measles elimination status could be at risk. The Pan American Health Organization is scheduled to meet in April and may decide whether to revise that status. National case counts compiled by the CDC can lag behind state reports, and monitoring of cases continues.