The US reported 2,295 cases of measles in 2026, surpassing last year's record high and reaching the highest number of cases in 35 years. This story was more widely covered by the left and center than the right, though coverage AllSides found from across the political spectrum emphasized the danger to public health and the importance of increasing vaccination rates.

The Details: Johns Hopkins University tracked measles cases through state and county health departments along with other resources, putting its information ahead of reports from the CDC, according to Washington Post (Lean Left bias). Washington Post also wrote that this record high "underscores how the country has entered a new phase in its battle with measles," as outbreaks are spreading wider and sustaining longer in multiple states rather than being concentrated in a few small undervaccinated communities.

Key Quotes: Epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad told New York Post (Lean Right), "This is a major public health warning sign… Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but elimination is not a permanent trophy. It has to be protected through consistently high vaccination coverage, fast outbreak detection and strong local public health response."

For Context: NewsNation (Center) reported that the elimination status for the US is "under question" because measles transmission has persisted for more than one year. It also noted that Canada lost its elimination status in 2025 and that both the US and Mexico are scheduled to review their elimination status soon.

Vaccination Rates: Washington Post noted that vaccination rates have been declining for years, noting that because 30% of recent measles cases have been reported in adults, the outbreaks suggest that "groups of people were unvaccinated across generations and not just recently amid the political spotlight on vaccine hesitancy." Washington Post also highlighted that because measles cases have been so rare for the past 30 years or so, "a generation of doctors is getting a crash course in diagnosing and managing a disease many have rarely — if ever — encountered."

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.