Measles cases in the U.S. and Canada continue to rise, but not as dramatically as they did. Vaccination is still the best way to protect your family and those around you who cannot be vaccinated.
(Note – we use data from both the CDC and the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While the CDC tracks confirmed cases only, the Pandemic Center tracks both probable and confirmed cases using publicly available data from state health departments. Numbers below are correct as of 11/6).
So, how many cases and outbreaks of measles are there in the US at the moment?
- Total confirmed cases by the Brown University Pandemic Center– 1686
- CDC numbers match quite closely- 1681 (1658 in 42 states – 23 are from international visitors to the U.S.)
- Since the beginning of the year, there have been 44 outbreaks reported by both the Brown University Pandemic Center and the CDC (an outbreak is considered if there are three or more related cases)
Can you tell me more about cases? Who are they?
- 92% of cases occurred in people who are not vaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown.
- Most cases are in those aged 5-19 years of age (40%), followed by 33% in adults aged 20 years and older, and 26% in those under 5.
- 12% of people who got measles were hospitalized for the disease, and more than half of those hospitalized were children under 5 years of age.
- Sadly, three people have died from a measles infection so far this year. You might have also seen news of another death in Canada recently. A baby born prematurely died after it had been infected by its mother, who got sick with measles.
Are there any outbreaks happening at the moment?
There are several active outbreaks happening at the moment. There is an ongoing outbreak along the Arizona/Utah border, which to date stands at 178 infected people. South Carolina is also experiencing a large outbreak. You might have heard in the news that over 150 students in Spartanburg County had to quarantine, and so far, 34 people have been confirmed to have measles.
💡Did you know that measles was eliminated in the US in 2000?
Eliminated means that the disease is no longer spreading person to person. When outbreaks occur, like is happening in the US right now, the country can lose this elimination status. In order to keep the elimination status, the country has to drop back to being case-free within 12 months. For the US, that date will be January 2026. Currently, there are still around 20-30 new cases per week, so if those cases don’t stop by the new year, measles will no longer be considered eliminated in the US. This is important because it means the risk of getting measles is now higher in the US, and it signals a decline in preventive actions, like vaccines, that help keep us safe and healthy.
And Canada reached that 12-month milestone on October 27, so it will lose its elimination status.
So what does that mean for me?
Vaccination remains your “best shot” – pardon the pun – at protecting yourself, your family, and those around you who cannot get the vaccine.
Vaccines are in the news a lot right now, and there is a lot of conflicting information. Many people are unsure of what the current recommendations are for many diseases, including measles. Current guidelines are provided by trustworthy organisations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Those Nerdy Girls have written several posts about what measles is, why it’s so dangerous, and why vaccination is safe and so super effective – you can check them out below:
‼️Wait, there’s more than one type of measles?
‼️How can I protect myself from measles?
So, bottom line, although it’s not in the news as much, measles is still around and can pose a risk to anyone who is not vaccinated.
Stay safe, stay well.
Love,
Those Nerdy Girls
Resources:
Brown University Pandemic Center – tracking report 11/6/25 [archived link]
CDC – Measles dashboard [archived link]
ACOG – call to action: MMR vaccine remains the strongest defense against measles[archived link]
AAP – measles vaccine [archived link]
