CDC reports 416 confirmed U.S. measles cases so far in 2026, mostly linked to outbreaks that began in 2025

A fast start to 2026 for measles case totals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, as of January 22, 2026, there were 416 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026. The agency’s update—posted January 23, 2026—details where cases are being reported and emphasizes that the overwhelming majority are tied to outbreak activity rather than isolated infections.

According to the CDC’s case tracking, 413 of the 416 confirmed cases were reported by 14 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The CDC also reported three cases among international visitors to the United States.

Most cases are outbreak-associated, but the outbreaks began earlier

The CDC said that no new outbreaks were reported as starting in 2026 at the time of its update, yet 94% of confirmed cases were outbreak-associated. In practical terms, this means the U.S. is still feeling the effects of outbreak chains that began in 2025 and continued into the new year, with many cases connected through transmission networks rather than new, unrelated introductions.

This distinction matters for public health response: when cases cluster in outbreak networks, health departments focus on rapid case identification, contact tracing, and community vaccination outreach—especially in places where immunity gaps allow the virus to spread quickly.

What communities can do right now

The CDC’s measles resources emphasize practical steps for communities facing an outbreak, including guidance for schools and parents, communication templates, and toolkits designed to help local officials respond. Because measles is highly contagious, public health messaging often stresses vaccination status checks, prompt isolation of suspected cases, and medical advice for people exposed to a confirmed case.

For families, the key issues are recognizing symptoms, contacting healthcare providers before arriving at clinics (to reduce spread), and confirming whether children and adults are up to date on recommended immunizations.

Why the CDC’s update is a warning signal

A measles case count in the hundreds early in the year underscores how quickly outbreaks can accelerate when the virus finds pockets of low vaccination coverage. The CDC’s numbers also show the breadth of the geographic footprint—multiple regions reporting cases—which increases the importance of consistent surveillance and rapid response to keep outbreaks from expanding further.