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The Measles Outbreaks and Exposures of 2026

Breaking News – More measles in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

We have already had at least 1525 cases of measles in 2026
We have already had at least 1525 cases of measles in 2026, including cases in Arizona (58), California (29), Colorado (12), Florida (140), Georgia (2), Idaho (8), Illinois (2), Kentucky (4), Maine (5), Michigan (3), Minnesota (14), Nebraska (3), New Mexico (13), New York & NYC (7), North Carolina (23), North Dakota (26), Ohio (11), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (10), Pennsylvania (12), South Carolina (668), South Dakota (7), Texas (147), Utah (275), Vermont (1), Virginia (14), Washington (28), Wisconsin (2).

After a record-breaking year in 2025, we are already on track for an even bigger 2026!

The Measles Outbreaks of 2026

All together, measles outbreaks and cases in 2026 include (but are not limited to…):

  • an ongoing outbreak in South Carolina that is already up to 434 920 933 950 962 973 979 985 991 cases, with 44 13 17 12 11 6 6 0 new cases, including 145 592 605 622 634 645 651 657 663 668 cases in 2026, and with 409 277 235 186 127 105 91 61 52 2 people in quarantine and 17 8 6 9 8 7 1 2 4 0 in isolation (Oct 2025 – Mar 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Mohave County, Arizona that is already up to 239 254 278 cases, including 25 40 46 56 58 cases in 2026 (Aug 2025 – Mar 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Utah that is already up to 9 251 272 300 319 358 405 464 cases, with 48 21 28 19 39 35 66 new cases, including 56 77 104 123 162 184 209 275 cases in 2026 (Dec 2025 – Mar 2026)
  • ongoing outbreaks in Clark County (7 8) and Snohomish County (6 12 14) in Washington (Jan – Mar 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in North Carolina (linked to an outbreak in South Carolina) is already up to 6 17 22 cases, with 2 5 new cases, including 16 22 cases in 2026, and with exposures in Asheville, Candler, Durham, Smithfield, Lincolnton, Charlotte, Rocky Mount, Chapel Hill, Columbus, Mill Spring, Indian Trail, Monroe, and Raleigh (Dec 2025 – Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak at Ave Marie University in Collier County, Florida is up to 53 57 66 83 98 104 people, including one case that spread outside the University to a nearby private Catholic K-12 school. (Jan – Mar 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Shasta County, California that is already up to 8 9 cases, with exposures in Redding and Palo Cedro. (Jan – Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Duval County, Florida that is already up to 5 cases. (Jan – Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania that is already up to 6 7 cases (Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Rockwall County, Texas that is already up to 5 6 cases (Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Penobscot County, Maine that is now up to 5 cases (Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Kendall County and Bandera County, Texas that is now up to 6 cases (Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Pembina County, North Dakota that is now up to 12 15 23 cases (Feb-Mar 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Franklin County, Ohio that is now up to 6 7 cases, all unvaccinated children (Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak at the East Montana federal facility in El Paso, that is up to at least 13 cases (Feb 2026)
  • an ongoing outbreak in Placer County, California (Sacramento region) that is now up to 4 cases
  • an ongoing outbreak in Hudspeth County, Texas that is up to 99 cases (Mar 2026)
  • at least 127 cases at federal detention centers in El Paso and Hudspeth County Texas

So that’s at least 1525 cases, and it’s only March, after a January that set a record for the most measles cases at the start of the year …

What does that mean?

It means folks should buckle up and make sure they are vaccinated and protected!

Protection from Measles

Fortunately, it’s usually not hard to protect yourself and your family from measles.

Remember that high risk infants can get an early MMR when they are just six months old! And toddlers can get their second MMR early too.  This can help to control measles during an outbreak.
Remember that high risk infants can get an early MMR when they are just six months old! And toddlers can get their second MMR early too. This can help to control measles during an outbreak.

Just get vaccinated and protected!

What if you can’t?

What if you have a true medical exemption to getting the MMR vaccine or your baby is too young to be vaccinated?

Then you should do your best to avoid high risk situations and encourage folks around you to get vaccinated and protected.

More on the Measles Outbreaks

Last Updated on March 23, 2026