Highly contagious: Viral disease surges past 2.9K cases — and cases are still climbing

NewsThe U.S. has recorded over 2,900 measles cases in 2026, surpassing all of 2025, with 94% of cases linked to outbreaks and unvaccinated individuals.Canva Illustration for NJ.comBy Dallas Gagnon | MassLive.comThe U.S. has confirmed 2,903 measles cases this year, surging past the 2,289 logged for all of 2025 — and there are still three more months of 2026 left to go.The most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows confirmed measles cases in 47 states and jurisdictions — plus D.C. — with 16 more among international visitors.Measles cases breakdown by ageThe majority of individuals with measles are young children, adolescents and young adults. People between the ages of 5 and 19 account for 47%, or 1,351, of all measles cases reported this year.Adults 20 years or older account for 34% of all cases, or 1,001, and children 5 years old or younger account for 19%, or 541 cases. These numbers closely mirror 2025’s measles data with children under 5 years old accounting for 25% of all cases last year, individuals between 5 and 19 years old accounting for 44%, and people 20 years and older accounting for 29%. Measles outbreaksThe surge isn’t random — it stems from a series of outbreaks. The CDC has tracked 37 new outbreaks this year. An outbreak is considered a cluster of three or more cases in a given community. In 2026, a staggering 94% of all cases trace back to an outbreak. Patients who were unvaccinated accounted for 94% of the cases — matching last year’s trend.The one bright spotFewer patients infected with measles are ending up hospitalized this year compared with previous years. In 2026, 8% of people with the virus — 223 people — were hospitalized. That’s down from 11% last year. The drop was steepest among kids under 5, whose hospitalization rate dropped from 18% in 2025 to 11% in 2026. As of September 2026, there are no confirmed measles deaths in the U.S. versus three in 2025.However, according to the CDC, the latest data does not include two potential measles-related deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on August 25.The CDC said it is in the process of reviewing additional information “regarding the circumstances and causes of death.”The agency said that the available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths or whether the individuals died from other causes while infected with measles. The agency will update its data when more information becomes available. Measles symptomsThe CDC urges anyone who believes they may have been exposed to measles to contact their doctor immediately. The agency warns that the virus “isn’t just a little rash,” and it can be “dangerous for anyone but especially for babies and young children.”Symptoms of the virus typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and begin with a high fever, sometimes topping 104 degrees, a cough, runny nose and watery eyes. About two to three days after initial symptoms, an infected person may begin developing tiny white spots called Koplik spots inside the mouth. A rash may then develop on days three to five after first showing symptoms. The rash usually starts as flat red spots on the face and hairline and then spread to the neck, chest, arms, legs and feet. “Some people may suffer from severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain),” the CDC warns. “They may need to be hospitalized and could die.”Treatment There is no cure or specific treatment for measles. According to the Cleveland Clinic, sickness usually lasts between 10 and 14 days without complications. People are encouraged to contact their healthcare providers if they have questions about vaccinations, have been exposed to measles or would like to check blood levels for measles antibodies to see if they are immune. Unique coffee chain to open dozens of spots across U.S.Popular grill chain’s last locations to close for goodWalmart recalls: Check your kitchens, garages and medicine cabinets for these 5 productsDallas Gagnon is a Business Trending Reporter and a Reporting Fellow with the Newhouse School of Communications. Dallas covers everything from business openings and closures, national business news, layoff...