CDC adds 178 measles cases, bringing 2026 total to 4,588

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 178 new measles cases in the United States this week. The agency’s latest data puts the national total for 2026 at 4,588 cases as of Friday. This figure is more than double the total recorded for the same period in 2025.

The infections are spread across at least 43 distinct outbreaks. Pennsylvania reports the highest number of cases, with 1,338 confirmed infections on the same day. South Carolina and Utah also report large clusters, with each state exceeding 500 cases.

Officials and experts note that the current numbers likely undercount the true spread of the disease. Measles is one of the most contagious illnesses known to medicine. Common symptoms such as rash, runny nose, fever, and cough often do not prompt immediate medical visits. The vaccine is 97% effective at preventing the disease.

The mortality data reveals a split between state and federal reporting. Pennsylvania authorities have reported five measles associated deaths and are investigating a sixth. The CDC has reported only three deaths nationally. The agency has not specified the location of the third death, leaving unclear whether it includes a Pennsylvania case.

The discrepancy follows a report that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked senior CDC officials in September to remove a specific measles death from the official tally. Reuters reported that Kennedy questioned whether the disease contributed to that death.

The HHS announced changes to the vaccine adverse event reporting system this week. The proposal allows doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. This system has been a focal point for researchers tracking rare safety issues and for activists citing potential links between vaccines and health problems.

Kennedy fired all 17 members of the expert panel that previously evaluated vaccine risks and benefits. He replaced them with ideologically aligned appointees, a move blocked by a court in March. During his tenure, the secretary has claimed children receive more than 90 vaccine doses, linked vaccines to autism, and stated that the measles vaccine contains aborted fetal debris.