Measles Outbreak Worsens in US, 10 Dead as Cases Exceed 5,400

The United States is facing a growing measles outbreak, with 10 people dying from the highly contagious disease since the beginning of 2026. A total of 5,412 infections have been reported across 45 states, an increase of 230 cases from the previous weekly report.

The figures were reported by Polsat News, citing US health authorities and ABC News.

Pennsylvania has recorded the highest number of measles-related deaths, with seven fatalities. Two people have died in Wisconsin and one in New York. On Friday, November 13, Wisconsin’s health department confirmed the state’s second measles-related death. Health authorities in Pennsylvania also reported another fatality on the same day.

According to the data, the United States recorded an average of 180 measles cases annually between 2000 and 2024. However, infections have surged to several thousand in 2026. Around 2,200 adults have been infected so far this year, compared with 674 last year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says measles can be more severe in adults, with approximately 15 percent of infected adults requiring hospitalization.

The situation has become more concerning as childhood vaccination rates continue to decline. The measles vaccination rate among US kindergarten children has fallen from 95 percent in 2019 to 92 percent in 2026. A vaccination coverage rate of 95 percent is considered necessary to prevent widespread transmission. Nearly 300,000 children entering pre-kindergarten education this year have not received the vaccine.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is administered in two doses. The first dose is recommended at 12 to 15 months of age, while the second is given between four and six years. Two doses provide approximately 97 percent protection against measles.

According to experts, an infected person can transmit the virus to up to 90 percent of unvaccinated people they come into close contact with. The virus can remain active in the air and on contaminated surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Among unvaccinated people infected with measles, approximately one in five requires hospitalization, while one in 20 infected children develops pneumonia.