CDC records 178 new measles cases as US total reaches 4,588

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

The outbreak is spreading across at least 43 separate clusters. Pennsylvania leads the nation with 1,338 confirmed cases. South Carolina and Utah also report large surges, with each state logging more than 500 cases. The disease is highly contagious and can cause severe illness, including rash, fever, and respiratory symptoms.

Conflicting data has emerged regarding measles-related deaths. State officials in Pennsylvania have reported five deaths associated with the disease and are investigating a sixth. The CDC lists only three national deaths. Federal authorities have not specified the location of the third death, leaving uncertainty about whether it overlaps with state records.

According to Reuters, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked senior CDC officials in September to remove one death from the official tally. He questioned whether measles contributed to that specific fatal outcome. The discrepancy between state and federal counts has drawn criticism from experts who say the data lacks transparency.

The Health and Human Services Department announced changes to vaccine injury reporting systems this week. A new proposal allows doctors to bill for reporting suspected vaccine injuries. This change affects the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, which researchers use to track rare safety issues but which anti-vaccine activists frequently cite.

Kennedy has taken steps to reshape vaccine oversight since taking office. He fired all 17 members of the expert board that previously evaluated vaccine safety and benefits. A court blocked the appointment of his replacements in March. Kennedy has also made several public claims, including that children receive more than 90 vaccine doses and that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine contains aborted fetal debris.

The CDC continues to monitor the 43 active outbreaks. The measles vaccine remains 97% effective at preventing the disease. Health officials note that one in five unvaccinated people who contract measles requires hospitalization.