Primary source: CDC measles cases and outbreaks data page

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s measles data page lists six measles-related deaths in 2026, twice its count of three deaths for all of 2025, and notes the 2026 death figure may change as reviews continue³.

As of Nov. 5, CDC listed 5,182 confirmed 2026 U.S. cases, including 5,164 reported by 47 jurisdictions and 18 among international visitors³. It counted 43 new outbreaks in 2026 and said 96 percent of confirmed cases (4,993 of 5,182) were outbreak-associated³.

The same CDC tables put hospitalizations at 11 percent of confirmed 2026 cases (562 of 5,182) and said 96 percent of 2026 cases were in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown³. CDC said kindergarten MMR coverage had fallen from 95.2 percent in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4 percent in 2025–2026³.

CDC said it is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists on a standardized case definition for measles deaths³. The national death table does not name states³.

Reuters and The Guardian, citing the same CDC page, said the agency did not identify which states accounted for the six deaths^1,2. The Guardian said Pennsylvania officials had confirmed six measles-associated deaths in the state this year, that New York recorded a measles-related death, and that Wisconsin health officials confirmed an infant death².

Both outlets described a gap between the federal tally and some state reports after CDC began using National Center for Health Statistics mortality data to track measles deaths^1,2. Reuters said the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment¹.

Reuters said a Pan American Health Organization expert commission was expected in coming days to weigh whether the United States should retain measles-free status, which was declared in 2000^1,3. CDC’s page states measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000³.