- Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 1,500 this year, with 1,566 domestic cases confirmed across 30 states, making 2025 and 2026 among the worst years for the disease since its elimination in 2000.
- Significant surges of the highly contagious virus are reported in Utah, Texas, and Florida, with Utah reaching 486 cases, Texas 170, and Florida over 140, including an outbreak at Ave Maria University.
- These outbreaks are largely attributed to lower vaccination rates, as 92 percent of measles cases involve individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
- While no measles deaths have been reported this year, three unvaccinated individuals, including two young children, died from the disease in 2025.
- A decision on whether the U.S. has lost its measles elimination status, which assesses continuous spread for over a year, has been postponed until November to standardize the assessment process.
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