US measles cases reach highest level in 35 years

The United States has recorded its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, according to official figures released Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,318 confirmed measles cases in the first seven months of 2026. That is higher than the 2,289 cases recorded in 2025, when three deaths were reported, including two young children.

Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the outbreak an avoidable crisis that disproportionately harms children. He said it should not be accepted as normal.

Measles can cause fever, respiratory symptoms and skin rashes. It can also lead to more serious complications, including pneumonia and brain inflammation, which can cause long-term harm and death.

Measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000 after vaccination efforts. The illness has returned in recent years as vaccination rates have declined and distrust in health authorities has grown. The report also said Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the health secretary under US President Donald Trump, is accused of contributing significantly to the crisis by spreading anti-vaccine sentiment and fear about established immunizations.

The last time the United States had a higher number of measles cases was in 1991, when 9,643 cases were recorded. Cases fell sharply after a two-dose vaccine regimen became standard. Before a measles vaccine was developed in the early 1960s, the disease killed hundreds of children each year in the United States. It still kills tens of thousands of people worldwide.