US measles cases surpass 4,000 as Pennsylvania reports sixth death
Is it spreading to new areas?
Spread confirmed
As of 13 October 2026, health officials have identified cases spreading to new areas including Georgia, Laurel County in Kentucky, Oswego and Ontario counties in New York, and Allegheny County in Pennsylvania.
Sources: CBS NewsSpectrum NewsSyracuse.comDemocrat & ChronicleCBS News 2Key figures
| Figure | Value | Basis | As of | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total U.S. measles cases in 2026 Reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). | 4,080 | Official | Sources: U.S. News & World ReportReutersCBS NewsABC News | |
| Pennsylvania measles deaths Reported by Pennsylvania health officials and county coroners. | 6 | Official | Sources: AxiosNBC NewsThe GuardianCIDRAPThe Philadelphia Inquirer | |
| CDC outbreak response funding offered Offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to state health departments. | $100 million | Official | Sources: The New York Times | |
| Chester County, Pennsylvania cases Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer as of 7 October 2026. | 86 | Press reports | Sources: The Philadelphia Inquirer | |
| Laurel County, Kentucky cases Reported by Laurel County health officials. | 7 | Official | Sources: Spectrum News |
Who says what
| Who | Says | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Deploying additional support to Pennsylvania and offering $100 million in federal funding to assist state public health departments. | Sources: ReutersThe New York TimesU.S. News & World Report | |
| Pennsylvania health officials and county coroners | Confirmed a sixth measles-related fatality in the state and reported 74 new cases during the ongoing outbreak. | Sources: NBC NewsAxiosThe Philadelphia InquirerABC News | |
| Chester County Health Department | Warned the public of potential measles exposures at local retail stores and directed school staff vaccination checks. | Sources: The Philadelphia Inquirer6abc Philadelphia | |
| U.S. Lawmakers | Requested details from the CDC director regarding childhood vaccination recommendations and federal outbreak response plans. | Sources: CIDRAP |
Summary
As of 13 October 2026, total U.S. measles cases in 2026 have surpassed 4,000 across at least 45 states, making it the largest national outbreak since 1991. Pennsylvania remains the epicenter of the outbreak, where health officials recently reported a sixth measles-related death in a 39-year-old Franklin County resident, prompting the CDC to deploy additional support staff to assist state investigators.
Cases and potential public exposures continue to expand across several states, including a newly identified case in Georgia linked to Pennsylvania, local school closures and exposure alerts in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and additional cases in New York and Kentucky. In response, federal officials announced $100 million in CDC funding for state public health departments to support outbreak response efforts.
Timeline
- The CDC offers $100 million in federal funding to state health departments, while Pennsylvania reports 74 new measles cases.Sources: The New York TimesABC News
- CDC reports national measles cases surpass 4,000 across 45 states, while health departments in Chester, Allegheny, and Laurel counties report new cases and potential exposures.Sources: U.S. News & World ReportReutersCBS News6abc PhiladelphiaSpectrum News
- Pennsylvania records its sixth measles death in Franklin County, and Oxford Area High School reopens following staff vaccination checks.Sources: The Philadelphia InquirerPittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Philadelphia Inquirer 2
- The CDC deploys additional support to Pennsylvania, and officials investigate a new Georgia measles case suspected of links to Pennsylvania.Sources: ReutersCBS News
Still unknown
- Whether the newly identified measles case in Georgia is confirmed to be linked to the Pennsylvania outbreak.
- The full extent of secondary transmission from public exposures in school and retail settings across Chester and Allegheny counties.
- How CDC support teams and $100 million in grant funding will impact containment in under-immunized rural communities.
- The outcome of public health investigations into suspected measles cases in additional states such as Minnesota.