Measles activity updates
U.S. measles activity remains elevated: the CDC was reported as documenting 910 U.S. cases as of February 12, and other reporting tallied 1,671 cases in the first three months of 2026. ( ). Regional notes include Pennsylvania leading mid‑Atlantic case counts, Virginia investigating a confirmed Northern Region case tied to recent international travel, and Utah reporting roughly 583 confirmed cases with about 47 hospitalizations and over 83% of infected people unvaccinated at diagnosis. ( )
Measles is still spreading widely in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 1,714 confirmed cases as of April 9, 2026. (cdc.gov) That total came from 33 jurisdictions, and 94% of the cases were tied to outbreaks, the federal agency said in its April 10 update. The same page says 17 new outbreaks were reported in 2026. (cdc.gov) Measles moves through the air, not just by touch, and the virus can stay in an airspace for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine are the best protection. (cdc.gov; cdc.gov) The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, meaning year-round local transmission had been interrupted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says imported infections can still restart outbreaks when the virus reaches people without protection. (cdc.gov; cdc.gov) Pennsylvania has reported more measles cases in 2026 than any other mid-Atlantic state, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data cited by Delaware Online on April 13. Pennsylvania had reported 12 confirmed cases by early March, with infections centered in Lancaster, Montgomery, and Chester counties, according to WHYY. (delawareonline.com; whyy.org) Virginia health officials are investigating a confirmed measles case in the Northern Region tied to recent international travel. The Virginia Department of Health says the state had reported 17 measles cases in 2026 as of March 25, including nine in the Northern Region and six in the Southwest Region. (nationaltoday.com; vdh.virginia.gov) Utah has become the country’s most active measles hot spot, with 583 confirmed cases reported since the outbreak began in 2025. Utah News Dispatch reported 47 hospitalizations and said about 83% of confirmed cases were in unvaccinated people, citing state health data and officials. (utahnewsdispatch.com; kuer.org) The outbreak map is still changing by state and by week. Utah’s own public dashboard showed 559 total cases as of March 31, then later reporting cited 583 cases as of April 7 and April 8, showing how fast the numbers are moving. (epi.utah.gov; aha.org; townlift.com) Federal health officials say measles can cause hospitalization even in previously healthy children, and one in 1,000 cases can lead to encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has told clinicians to stay alert as cases continue to appear across the country. (cdc.gov; cdc.gov) The next national update will depend on what states report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week. For now, the April 10 federal count shows 2026 has already passed the pace that alarmed health officials earlier this year. (cdc.gov)
