U.S. measles cases surpass last year's total: Tracker
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The U.S. measles case count for this year has surged past last year's total and now stands at 2,295 — a level that hasn't been seen in 35 years, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker that compiles state and local health data.
Why it matters: It's the latest sign that the virus is rebounding in areas with low vaccine coverage, threatening the United States' measles elimination status, which is due to be reviewed in November.
The big picture: The majority of cases are in unvaccinated people. While overall measles vaccination rates are still relatively high, public health officials say they must remain above 95% to maintain herd immunity.
By the numbers: As of Tuesday, there were nine more cases than in all of 2025, per the Johns Hopkins U.S. measles tracker.
- Jurisdictions including South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Florida and Arizona have the most reported cases.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,260 confirmed cases in its last update on July 16. The agency said there were 34 new outbreaks reported this year.
- The last time measles cases were higher was in 1991, when the U.S. had 9,643 cases, according to CDC data.
Threat level: Measles symptoms include a cough, high fever and conjunctivitis as well as a telltale rash, but can escalate into complications such as severe ear infections, pneumonia and encephalitis or inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent brain damage and even death, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- On average, measles kills between 1 and 3 of every 1,000 infected children.
The rebound comes at a time when a number of key top government health positions — including CDC director and surgeon general — remain vacant, and after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially downplayed the virus' threat.
- He's since said the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles spread while noting vaccination is a personal choice.
