US measles cases exceed 5,000 as Pennsylvania outbreak surpasses 1,500 cases.
Is it spreading to new areas?
Spread confirmed
As of 10 November 2026, health officials reported the first confirmed measles case in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, following travel to central Pennsylvania, while the CDC reported cases across 45 states.
Sources: NBC10 PhiladelphiaNBC10 Philadelphia 2FOX 29 PhiladelphiaABC NewsKey figures
| Figure | Value | Basis | As of | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Measles Deaths (2026) Stated by the U.S. CDC; ABC News previously cited health officials reporting eight deaths on 5 November. | 6 | Official | Sources: The GuardianReutersU.S. News & World ReportABC News | |
| Total US Measles Cases (2026) Stated by the U.S. CDC across 45 states; CIDRAP reported over 5,100 cases on 6 November. | Over 5,000 | Official | Sources: ABC NewsThe Washington PostAl JazeeraCIDRAP | |
| Pennsylvania Measles Cases Stated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. | Over 1,500 | Press reports | Sources: ReutersU.S. News & World ReportNBC10 Philadelphia | |
| Pennsylvania Measles Deaths Stated by Pennsylvania state health officials. | 6 | Official | Sources: The Washington PostCBS News |
Who says what
| Who | Says | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDC / CDC Director | Confirmed six measles deaths in the U.S. in 2026, endorsed vaccination, and stated federal outbreak response will not change if the U.S. loses elimination status. | Sources: The GuardianBloombergThe HillCNN | |
| Pennsylvania Department of Health | Reported that statewide measles cases surpassed 1,500, with adults accounting for two-thirds of cases, and confirmed six deaths in the state. | Sources: ReutersU.S. News & World ReportCIDRAPThe Washington Post | |
| Bucks County Health Officials | Confirmed the county's first measles case in a resident who traveled to central Pennsylvania. | Sources: NBC10 PhiladelphiaFOX 29 PhiladelphiaThe Philadelphia Inquirer | |
| Wisconsin Health Officials | Reported the death of an infant from measles, marking the state's first measles fatality since 1990. | Sources: U.S. News & World ReportReutersThe Washington PostThe Hill |
Summary
As of 12 November 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed six measles-related deaths in the United States in 2026, as nationwide case counts reached a 35-year high.
In Pennsylvania, state health officials reported that measles cases surpassed 1,500, with two-thirds of cases occurring among adults and Bucks County confirming its first case in early November. Health officials in Wisconsin also reported an infant measles fatality, marking that state's first measles death since 1990.
CDC leadership stated that federal outbreak response efforts will remain unchanged even if an ongoing Pan American Health Organization review results in the United States losing its official measles elimination status.
Timeline
- Pennsylvania health officials reported the state's sixth measles-associated death.Sources: The Washington PostCBS News
- Wisconsin health officials reported an infant death from measles, the state's first measles fatality since 1990.Sources: U.S. News & World ReportThe Washington PostThe Hill
- The CDC reported national measles cases surpassed 5,000 across 45 states, reaching the highest annual total since 1991.Sources: ABC NewsReutersCIDRAP
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that statewide measles cases surpassed 1,500, while PAHO convened to review U.S. elimination status.Sources: ReutersThe Philadelphia Inquirer
- Bucks County health officials confirmed the county's first measles case.Sources: NBC10 PhiladelphiaNBC10 Philadelphia 2
- The CDC confirmed six measles-related deaths in the United States in 2026 as the CDC Director endorsed vaccination.Sources: The GuardianReutersBloomberg
Still unknown
- Whether the Pan American Health Organization review will result in the official loss of U.S. measles elimination status.
- Reconciliation between CDC's reported six national deaths in 2026 and earlier state-level reports citing fatalities across multiple states.
- The speed and effectiveness of community outreach and vaccination campaigns in under-immunized rural communities.