It’s only July, but measles cases in 2026 have already topped last year—and last year was already bad

Confirmed measles cases have climbed to 2,318 so far this year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marking a second consecutive record-breaking year. The CDC reported 2,289 confirmed cases for all of 2025. The current 2,318 total is a 35-year high. The last time the United States saw a higher annual case count was 1991, when 9,643 cases were reported. With more than five months left in 2026, this year’s numbers are likely to grow. Here’s what you…