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Vol. 3 · No. 317 Every side. Side by side. Friday, November 13, 2026
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PAHO panel reviews U.S. measles elimination as CDC counts 5,412 cases

Stateline, citing CDC data through Nov. 12, said the United States has 5,412 confirmed measles cases in 2026 as a PAHO expert panel reviews whether elimination status still holds.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Dateline · WhatsNewPaper Desk · Written from 2 sources
What's new
  1. Stateline, CDC and Al Jazeera are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “U.S. measles cases top 4,500 in 2026, more than double 2025 total”
  3. Our desk updated its story
  4. New headline Was: “U.S. measles cases more than double what they were last year as outbreak spreads”
  5. Our desk filed its story

The United States has recorded 5,412 confirmed measles cases in 2026 as of Nov. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Friday update, more than double the 2,289 cases reported for all of 20251,2.

Stateline reported that a Pan American Health Organization expert panel was reviewing U.S. cases Friday to assess whether measles has been spreading for 12 months or more, the threshold used to reverse elimination status first recognized in 20001.

CDC said 5,394 of the 2026 cases were reported by 47 jurisdictions and 18 among international visitors2. It said 43 new outbreaks have been reported this year and that 96% of confirmed cases, or 5,216 of 5,412, were outbreak-associated2.

Stateline, citing the same CDC release, said 58% of cases, or 3,134, were among people under 19, that 96% were in unvaccinated people, that 591 cases, or 11%, led to hospitalization, and that CDC has confirmed six measles-related deaths while state investigations continue1. CDC's Nov. 13 page listed six 2026 deaths, noting the figure is subject to change2.

Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,542 measles cases this year, including 37 since Nov. 9, Stateline said, citing the state health department1. It said Pennsylvania reported two measles-associated deaths since Election Day, with additional deaths reported by health agencies in New York and Wisconsin in the same period1.

Elimination status, Stateline said, means a country can interrupt measles transmission for 12 months or more1. CDC notes measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 amid high MMR vaccination coverage2. Kindergarten MMR coverage has fallen from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year to 92.4% in 2025-26, CDC said, leaving about 280,000 kindergartners at risk2. Stateline said 39 states now have MMR rates below 95%1.

Dr. Susan Kansagra of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials told Stateline local officials are seeing rapid growth after years of elimination1. Epidemiologist Katrine Wallace of the University of Illinois Chicago blamed anti-vaccine messaging and said she saw little federal push for vaccination1. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has opposed many vaccine mandates, Stateline said; CDC's page stresses MMR vaccination as protection1,2.

A PAHO determination had not been published in the Stateline account or on the CDC page at the time of those reports1,2.

Sources

  1. StatelineUS poised to lose its 'measles elimination status' after more than 25 years
  2. CDCMeasles Cases and Outbreaks

Read the original at Stateline ↗

How it’s being reported

2 sources

First reported by Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

Where they agree

  • CDC and Stateline both put 2026 confirmed U.S. measles cases at 5,412 as of Nov. 12, versus 2,289 in 2025.
  • Both report six CDC-confirmed measles-related deaths in 2026.

Where they differ

Death count beyond CDC's six

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

Stateline

US poised to lose its 'measles elimination status' after more than 25 years

CDC 2026 case totals, risk of losing elimination status, vaccination rates and HHS under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

States Newsroom/Stateline report by Shalina Chatlani citing CDC measles counts through Nov. 12, PAHO's Friday review, and interviews with public-health officials. Republished across…

CDC 2026 case totals, risk of losing elimination status, vaccination rates and HHS under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

What it reports

  • CDC reported 5,412 confirmed U.S. measles cases as of Nov. 12, 2026, versus 2,289 in all of 2025.
  • A PAHO expert panel was reviewing cases Friday against a 12-month continuous-spread test for elimination status, which the U.S. has held since 2000.
  • Stateline said cases were reported in 47 states plus D.C. and New York City; 96% of people with cases were unvaccinated; 591 hospitalizations; CDC confirmed six measles-related deaths.
  • Pennsylvania had 1,542 confirmed cases this year, Stateline said, citing the state health department.
  • The report said 39 states had MMR vaccination rates below 95%.
Read the original at Stateline Read the full article at Stateline
Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

Why the US, Mexico and Guatemala may lose their measles-free status

U.S., Mexico and Guatemala as countries that may lose measles-free status; RVC schedule and PAHO regional case total.

Reports PAHO's Regional Verification Commission meeting in Washington this week on measles elimination status for several countries in the Americas.

Leaves out CDC director statement carried by AP.

U.S., Mexico and Guatemala as countries that may lose measles-free status; RVC schedule and PAHO regional case total.

What it reports

  • Al Jazeera said PAHO's Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission began its annual conference Tuesday in Washington and was to adjourn Friday.
  • It said the United States, Mexico and Guatemala may lose measles elimination status, with Peru and Bolivia also at risk.
  • It said Canada lost the designation last November.
  • It cited PAHO as reporting 57,666 confirmed measles cases across 17 countries and territories in the Americas from January through October 2026.
  • It said the commission advises PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa, who makes the final determination, with an official announcement expected early next week.

Leaves out CDC director statement carried by AP.

Read the original at Al Jazeera Read the full article at Al Jazeera