US measles cases climb above 5,000 for first time since 1991

Nov 6 (Reuters) – The US CDC on Friday reported 5,182 measles cases in the nation, the highest annual tally in 35 years, as outbreaks spread.

Here are key details:

• Earlier this week, Pennsylvania reported the state’s sixth measles-associated death this year. New York and Wisconsin reported a death each

• However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded only four measles-associated deaths in 2026 and has not specified where they occurred. The agency reported three deaths in 2025

• There have been 43 new outbreaks reported this year, the CDC said

• Nationwide hospitalizations linked to measles this year stood at 562, representing 11% of all reported cases, according to the CDC

• People aged 20 and older accounted for 2,132 cases this year, followed by 2,104 cases among those aged 5-19 years and 908 cases in children under 5

• The vast majority of infections were among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, accounting for 96% of cases in 2026, the CDC’s data showed

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Sahal Muhammed)