U.S. Measles Cases More Than Double Last Year's Total: 1,338 Cases in Pennsylvania, 5 Dead

The United States is grappling with its worst resurgence of measles in decades. New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there have been more than 4,580 measles cases across the U.S., which is more than double the number for the whole of 2025.

According to CDC data, the vaccination status of 96% of those who contracted measles in 2026 was “Unvaccinated or Unknown” — meaning almost all of those infected either had not been vaccinated or had no vaccination record available.

Pennsylvania is the worst-hit state. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday, at least 1,338 cases of measles have been confirmed in 44 counties across the state so far this year. There were 21 new measles cases as of Oct. 21.

More than 250 people have been hospitalized in Pennsylvania and 5 people have died, the department said, as officials urge residents to get fully vaccinated against the disease.

Lancaster and Mifflin counties have two of the highest numbers of cases. Local Amish communities in those counties, which have low vaccination rates, are being impacted the most. Of the five people who have died, three lived in Lancaster County.

A sign is posted outside a Pennsylvania Department of Health measles vaccination clinic in Peach Bottom, in Lancaster County, in a photograph taken on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen held a roundtable with Mifflin County healthcare providers to assess their needs in combatting the disease. In a statement, Bogen said state metrics and data tell part of the story of the outbreak, but listening to the people on the ground caring for people in affected communities like Mifflin County is essential to refining the public health response.

According to health officials, one of the best ways to protect oneself from measles is vaccination. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, known as MMR, are nearly 97% effective against measles, according to the CDC, while one dose is about 93% effective.

In Pennsylvania, the health department said providers have seen more residents interested in getting vaccinated. More than 39,000 measles vaccines were administered across the state during the first three weeks of October — higher than an average of 25,000 vaccines administered across the state in one month.

The spread extends to other states. Earlier this month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency after rising measles cases. There have been over 160 confirmed measles cases across New York state, according to Oct. 20 data from the New York State Department of Health.

Utah has also experienced a high number of cases. More than 700 people in Utah have been diagnosed with measles this year, according to Oct. 20 data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, though there have been no new measles diagnoses in the state in three weeks.

In South Carolina, which was dealing with an outbreak earlier this year, there have been at least 997 measles cases in 2026, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. That outbreak ended in April.