Measles outbreaks are intensifying across multiple states in the United States amid what health authorities describe as the nation’s worst year for the disease in more than 30 years. Increased clusters have been reported in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia, with the total number of cases nationwide exceeding 2,700 in 2026, surpassing last year’s figures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The majority of cases this year are linked to localized outbreaks, underscoring the rapid spread of the highly contagious measles virus in communities with low vaccination rates. The CDC reports that its national case counts are updated weekly but may lag behind state-level data, noting a delay in the August 28 update.

Pennsylvania is experiencing the largest outbreak among the three states. As of August 28, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 460 cases statewide, including 86 new instances in the past week alone. Lancaster County remains the epicenter with 210 reported cases. On August 25, the state announced two measles-associated deaths, marking the first such fatalities in the U.S. in 2026. One of the deceased was a newborn infant. Both individuals had not received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine; infants under six months are not eligible for vaccination. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned whether the deaths were directly caused by measles. Pennsylvania health officials clarified that a death can be classified as measles-associated if laboratory or epidemiological evidence links it to a measles infection, even if the virus is not listed as the immediate cause of death. Community spread has been identified in 10 counties, with recent first cases reported in Butler and Westmoreland counties.

In Wisconsin, the outbreak is the state’s largest since 1990, with 98 confirmed cases reported in southwestern regions, more than doubling from the prior week. Most cases are concentrated in Iowa County (52), Lafayette County (43), and Grant County (3). Including two unrelated cases earlier this year, Wisconsin’s total of 100 cases in 2026 marks the highest annual count in over three decades. The CDC has deployed two public health workers to assist with contact tracing and case identification. State officials note that nearly all individuals affected during this outbreak were unvaccinated against measles.

Georgia has recorded 11 measles cases this year, with a recent cluster centered on a metro Atlanta day care facility. Four new cases were confirmed as of late August, involving children who were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated and had close contact with an earlier identified case. Authorities continue efforts to identify further exposures. This total represents Georgia’s second-highest annual figure in the past ten years.

Health officials emphasize the ease with which measles can spread, especially in communities with lower vaccination rates. The CDC states that 94% of cases in 2026 have stemmed from outbreaks. The virus is airborne and can linger in enclosed spaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Typical symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a characteristic rash.

Officials urge individuals suspecting they have measles to contact a healthcare provider before visiting in person to avoid further transmission. The CDC continues to recommend the MMR vaccine as the most effective means of prevention against measles.