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In the US, 232 cases of measles were reported this past week, much higher than the 173 cases reported the week prior. This is the first time the US has reported more than 200 cases per week since the end of January. The 2026 total number of measles cases (based on report date and not rash onset date) is now more than 3,000 cases, at 3,368. Pennsylvania reported the highest number of cases, with 116, and reported two measles-associated deaths last week.

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9/03/26 — The US recorded 232 measles cases in the past week, a large increase compared to the 173 cases reported the week prior. This is the fourth week in a row the US has recorded more than 100 cases of measles in a week, and the first time it has reported more than 200 cases a week since the end of January. The US has recorded a total of 3,368 cases so far in 2026.* This is the highest number of cases since 1991. Pennsylvania reported the highest number of new cases (+116) over the past week, and Kentucky, New York, and Wisconsin saw a large percentage increase in cases, 58%, 48%, and 80%, respectively.

*The measles data we report are tallied by the date they were reported by the health department (as opposed to other organizations, which tally cases by rash onset date). All data are procured from state health department websites.

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Counts include confirmed and probable cases.
Data are updated weekly on Thursdays or in coordination with the Pandemic Center Tracking Report release.
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We collect data from state health department websites that usually report by MMWR week. However, the day of the week these data are released differs by state. These numbers also may change over time as cases are backdated. Our totals reflect the most recent data available from the state health department website at the time of newsletter publication.

Pennsylvania's measles outbreak continues to grow, with 116 new cases reported in the past week, bringing the 2026 total to 540 cases, 91 hospitalizations, and two deaths — including a newborn whose death has sparked a disagreement between the state and federal governments over the cause of death. On August 25, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported two measles-associated deaths in unvaccinated individuals in Lancaster County. No further information was provided. An article later published in The Atlantic revealed one of the measles-associated deaths was a newborn whose mother had been infected with measles after the virus spread through her family and their Amish community. The baby was born with a lacerated spleen and died. The new Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is challenging whether the two deaths were caused by measles, stating additional information is needed. As a result, the CDC has not yet added these deaths to its measles dashboard. This is not the first congenital measles death North America has reported. Last year, Canada reported two deaths in infants who had congenital measles and were born preterm.

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Kentucky, New York, and Wisconsin had large increases in measles cases over the past week. Kentucky reported 14 new cases over the past week, a 58% increase in total cases in 2026 (38 cases). In 2025, Kentucky reported 13 cases. New York had a 48% (+14) increase in measles cases, bringing the total to 43 in 2026. New York City recorded six of the total cases, and another 37 cases were reported throughout the state. This is similar to the 48 total cases New York reported in 2025. Wisconsin reported the second-highest number of measles cases (+49) this week after Pennsylvania, with an 80% increase in cases in Wisconsin. In total, the state has had 110 measles cases in 2026; 99% of those cases were in unvaccinated individuals. In 2025, Wisconsin reported 36 cases. 

Other states reporting new measles cases this week include Delaware (+1), Florida (+2), Georgia (+6), Illinois (+5), Indiana (+3), Iowa (+4), Ohio (+8), Oregon (+4), Tennessee (+1), Texas (+1), and Virginia (+1). According to WastewaterSCAN, measles was newly detected in wastewater in the US this week in Atlanta, Georgia (August 23) and in San Francisco, California (September 1).

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Arizona and Utah did not report any new measles cases for the second week in a row. Despite this, both Arizona and Utah have experienced measles in their states for more than one year. Since 2025, Arizona has had 344 measles cases, and Utah has had 715 cases during that same time. Utah reported measles detections in wastewater samples taken on August 25 at the Utah County Health Department, which has reported cases. 

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Global Measles Outbreaks

This is a snapshot of notable measles updates rather than an exhaustive list of all countries currently experiencing outbreaks. It is organized in alphabetical order. 

• South Africa - Since the end of December 2025, South Africa has recorded 3,891 measles cases. Over the past week, the country has reported 144 new measles cases. About 70% of the cases have been in children aged one to 14 years old. The percentage of children under one who received no vaccinations increased from about 12% in 2017 to 36% in 2026. 

• Sweden - An outbreak of measles began in Sweden in August after infection spread during a music festival. In total, as of September 2, there have been 38 cases. Twenty-nine people attended the festival, and nine had contact with those who were infected.