US measles deaths double to six amid worst outbreak since 1991
The CDC reported six measles deaths in 2026, double the prior year, as the US faces its largest outbreak since 1991.
The United States is battling its worst measles resurgence since 1991, with more than 5,400 cases reported and six deaths confirmed by the CDC. The death toll has doubled from 2025.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 and spreads rapidly; the MMR vaccine offers about 97 per cent protection after two doses. The outbreak is so severe the US could lose its elimination status this week, placing it alongside Canada and several countries in Europe and Asia where measles has resurged.
Active outbreaks are now reported in nearly every US state.
- 6
- Deaths in 2026
- More than 5,400
- Confirmed cases
- 1991
- Worst outbreak since
- 97 per cent after two doses
- MMR vaccine efficacy
Why it mattersMeasles is preventable but spreads fast; losing elimination status signals a genuine public health breakdown.
