Lead
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 982 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of Friday, marking a sharp rise in early 2026. Twenty-six states have logged infections so far, with large outbreaks concentrated in Utah, Arizona and especially South Carolina. South Carolina’s outbreak has been active since last fall; state data show nearly 800 cases since January and a cumulative outbreak total of 973. Health officials say hospitalizations have occurred among both children and adults, renewing concerns about vaccine coverage and the potential loss of the U.S. elimination status.
Key takeaways
- CDC reported 982 measles cases nationwide in 2026 as of Friday, more than four times the tally at this point in 2025.
- Twenty-six states have reported at least one case so far this year, with major clusters in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona.
- South Carolina’s outbreak accounts for a substantial share: officials report 973 cases in the ongoing outbreak, with nearly 800 since January.
- At least 20 people in South Carolina have been hospitalized, and CDC data show that in 2025 more than 1 in 10 measles cases led to hospitalization.
- Florida has reported 92 cases in 2026, including 66 in Collier County largely linked to Ave Maria University.
- Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97% effective; the majority of current cases are among unvaccinated people, though breakthrough infections occur in a small minority.
Background
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning there was no continuous endemic transmission. That status has been threatened in recent years as vaccination coverage has declined in some communities and international importations have increased. Large local outbreaks began to reemerge in 2025, including a noteworthy cluster in West Texas late last year, and those patterns have expanded into 2026.
Low vaccination rates, pockets of vaccine hesitancy, and travel-related introductions of the virus combine to create vulnerability. Measles is highly contagious—an infected person can infect many others in settings with susceptible people—so even modest declines in two-dose coverage can allow rapid spread. Public-health authorities and hospital systems are therefore monitoring case counts and hospital burden closely.
Main event
Federal counts published Friday show 982 confirmed cases across the United States through the first two months of 2026. The largest single outbreak in this period is in South Carolina, where the virus has been circulating since last fall and state totals reached 973 for the outbreak as of Friday; nearly 800 of those cases were reported since January. Officials have deployed mobile clinics and targeted vaccination efforts in affected counties.
South Carolina state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell told reporters that at least 20 people from the state outbreak required hospitalization. She noted that hospitalizations have affected both children and adults and that additional patients required outpatient medical care. Local public-health teams have emphasized vaccination clinics, school notifications and isolation guidance for confirmed cases.
In Florida, state health officials reported 92 cases in 2026, with 66 of those clustered in Collier County and primarily associated with Ave Maria University near Naples. Affected students and community members were instructed to isolate; one graduate student described a progression from ear infection to full-body rash and an emergency-room visit. He reported having been vaccinated in childhood.
Clinicians on Saturday described a separate, longer-term consequence of measles in a New England Journal of Medicine case report: a 7-year-old boy treated at Children’s Hospital of Orange County developed subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) years after an infant measles infection acquired in Afghanistan. The journal account underscores rare but devastating delayed complications of measles.
Analysis & implications
Public-health implications are multifold. The immediate concern is limiting transmission among under-vaccinated communities to prevent further hospitalizations and severe outcomes, especially among infants and immunocompromised people who cannot be fully protected by vaccination. Hospitalizations increase clinical workload and can strain pediatric inpatient capacity during outbreaks.
Longer term, sustained transmission raises the possibility that the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status if chains of transmission persist and vaccination coverage does not recover. Loss of elimination would carry symbolic and practical consequences, including intensified international scrutiny and renewed investment needs for outbreak control.
Policy implications touch vaccination outreach, school- and university-level requirements, and targeted interventions in communities with low two-dose coverage. Rapid deployment of mobile clinics and focused communication—paired with timely case investigation and contact tracing—are essential to interrupt transmission. Economic and social costs also accrue: missed work and school, medical bills, and the resources public-health departments must marshal for large containment efforts.
Comparison & data
| Location | Cases reported (2026, through Feb) | Notable cluster |
|---|---|---|
| United States (total) | 982 | 26 states affected |
| South Carolina (outbreak) | 973 (outbreak total); ~800 since Jan | Ongoing statewide outbreak since fall |
| Florida | 92 | 66 cases in Collier County, Ave Maria University |
The table above summarizes confirmed counts reported by state and federal public-health authorities. CDC data show that hospitalizations represented more than 10% of measles cases in 2025, an indicator of disease severity in recent clusters. These figures reflect reported laboratory-confirmed and epidemiologically linked cases; surveillance completeness varies by jurisdiction.
Reactions & quotes
State and local leaders have emphasized vaccination and care for the ill while avoiding alarmist language. Public-health officials noted the disproportionate burden on under-vaccinated groups and the need to accelerate two-dose coverage.
“These hospitalizations involve both adults and children,”
Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina State Epidemiologist
Bell made the remark during a briefing describing the state’s outbreak response and hospital reports, underscoring that severe illness is not limited to one age group.
“If you’re not vaccinated, go ahead and get vaccinated. It might not protect you 100%, but it’s your best shot,”
Blaise Carney, Ave Maria University student
Carney, who recovered at home after an ER visit, described his symptoms and urged peers to accept vaccination despite rare breakthrough infections.
“Two doses of measles vaccine are approximately 97% effective in preventing measles,”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC’s effectiveness estimate is cited in public guidance and was reiterated by clinicians advising communities with outbreaks to verify two-dose coverage in eligible populations.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the United States will formally lose measles elimination status this year remains uncertain; that determination depends on sustained transmission patterns and formal CDC/WHO assessments.
- The precise drivers behind each local cluster (e.g., specific vaccine refusal networks versus access barriers) vary and are still under investigation in several jurisdictions.
- Complete accounting of hospital-based resource strain across all affected states is not yet compiled publicly and may change as more data are reported.
Bottom line
Measles has reemerged as a significant public-health threat in early 2026, with 982 cases reported nationwide and concentrated outbreaks fueling most new infections. The largest active outbreak—centered in South Carolina—has produced substantial case counts and hospitalizations, demonstrating how quickly measles can spread where immunity gaps exist.
Public-health priorities are clear: ramp up two-dose vaccination coverage, target outreach to under-immunized communities, and maintain timely surveillance and case response. For the public, the immediate practical step is to check vaccination status and follow local health advisories; from a policy angle, sustained investment in routine immunization and outbreak preparedness will be needed to prevent further erosion of measles control.
Sources
- NBC News — news report summarizing CDC and state data
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — official public-health data and vaccine guidance
- The New England Journal of Medicine — peer-reviewed journal (case report on SSPE)