The CDC has raised its count of 2026 measles deaths from one to two. The agency has not said where either death happened, and it says the number “is subject to change” as it finishes reviews.
The national count is still lower than Pennsylvania’s. Since late September, the state has reported four measles-associated deaths:
- Two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents, the state’s first measles deaths in 35 years
- A 40-year-old Jefferson County resident who died Sept. 12
- An unvaccinated 18-year-old from Mifflin County who died of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a rare neurological complication
Part of the gap comes from how each counts deaths. Pennsylvania calls a death measles-associated if it happens within 30 days of symptom onset and a positive test, whatever the immediate cause. The CDC said it is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists on a standard case definition for measles deaths. The goal is consistent reporting across jurisdictions.
As of Sept. 24, the CDC had confirmed 3,659 measles cases this year:
- 3,642 cases were reported across 47 jurisdictions and 17 were among international visitors.
- 95% of cases (3,478) are linked to an outbreak. Of those, 1,384 came from outbreaks that started in 2025.
- There have been 40 new outbreaks this year.
The case count total is 60% higher than all of 2025, which had 2,289 cases and three deaths. More adults are getting sick this year, as well. People 20 and older account for 38% of cases this year, up from 29% in 2025.
About 95% of patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Nine percent of patients, or 327, have been hospitalized. Hospitalization rates are highest among children under 5 (14%) and adults ages 20 and older (12%).
