The United States has recorded more than 5,000 confirmed measles cases in 2026, the highest annual total in 35 years, as declining vaccination rates contribute to the return of a disease that was declared eliminated in the country more than two decades ago.
A total of 5,182 cases had been reported nationwide by Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The figure is more than twice the 2,289 cases recorded throughout 2025 and the highest reported since 1991.
State health authorities have also reported at least eight measles-related deaths, including fatalities among very young chTildren.
The rising toll has alarmed medical professionals, who say the deaths could have been prevented through vaccination. Adam Ratner, a paediatric infectious disease specialist, told AFP that the fatalities were “tragic, and that is completely preventable”.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 following decades of widespread immunisation. However, infections have increased in recent years as vaccination coverage has fallen and public distrust of health authorities has grown.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a long history of questioning vaccine safety, has faced criticism over his role in public discussions about immunisation.
Ratner accused Kennedy of downplaying the seriousness of measles and its consequences.
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not believe that measles is a big problem and does not want to believe that there are deaths from measles,” he said.
“The burden of these diseases will fall on children, who are not the ones who are making these decisions,” Ratner added.
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases and spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Initial symptoms commonly include fever and respiratory problems, followed by a distinctive skin rash.
Although many patients recover, the disease can cause serious complications, particularly in young children. These include pneumonia and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent disability or death.
The CDC has highlighted the importance of vaccination in preventing outbreaks and reducing severe illness. Before the measles vaccine became available in 1963, the disease caused an estimated 400 to 500 deaths each year in the United States.
The latest figures underline the scale of the country’s resurgence and the challenges facing public health authorities as they seek to restore vaccination confidence and prevent further infections.
