Measles Virus

Rising Measles Hotspots

Utah, USA Critical

Utah Epicenter: 625+ Confirmed Cases

Utah became the US measles epicenter after South Carolina's outbreak ended. 428+ cases reported in 2026 alone. 47 hospitalized. Low MMR coverage in several counties drives ongoing community spread.

Salt Lake County Utah County CDC

625 confirmed

Texas, USA Critical

Texas Detention Centers: 181 Cases

136 cases in Hudspeth County tied to West Texas Detention Facility. El Paso (24), Harris (5), Travis (1 — Austin, May 8). Unvaccinated detainees and staff in congregate settings fuel transmission.

Hudspeth El Paso DSHS

181 confirmed

Bangladesh Critical

Bangladesh: 6,819 Confirmed, 344 Child Deaths

Outbreak since March 2026 across 58 of 64 districts. Dhaka hardest hit. 79% of cases in children under 5. Emergency MR vaccination campaign targeting 20 million children.

WHO UNICEF Dhaka

344 deaths

England, UK High

North London Cluster: 195+ Cases (2026)

195 confirmed cases Jan–Mar 2026 per UKHSA. Community spread in under-vaccinated pockets. MMR catch-up campaigns underway in affected boroughs.

UKHSA NHS

195 confirmed

United States Critical

US National: 1,714+ Confirmed (CDC, Apr 2026)

33 jurisdictions reporting. 94% outbreak-associated. Kindergarten MMR coverage fell to 92.5% — below 95% herd immunity threshold. ~286,000 kindergartners at risk.

CDC 33 states

1,714+ cases

Canada Elevated

Canada Lost Measles Elimination Status (Nov 2025)

Sustained transmission >12 months. Ontario: 23 cases in 2026 (Apr 28). Multi-province outbreak ongoing. Public Health Ontario monitoring closely.

Ontario PHAC

23+ in ON

Europe High

19 EU Countries: Endemic Transmission Returns

WHO/UNICEF: 33,998 cases in Europe 2025 (down 75% from 2024 but still elevated). France, Romania, Kazakhstan report ongoing spread. 8 deaths in EU/EEA in 2025.

WHO Europe ECDC

33,998 (2025)

Arizona / California Elevated

Western States: Community Spread Continues

Arizona (~89) and California (~142) among CDC-listed 2026 jurisdictions. Travel-related importations plus local transmission in undervaccinated communities.

AZDHS CDPH

231+ combined

Areas where low vaccination and travel may spark new measles outbreaks

Major Measles Outbreaks

South Carolina, USA Oct 2025 – Apr 2026

Largest US Outbreak in 35+ Years: 997 Cases

Spartanburg County outbreak declared over April 26, 2026 after 42 days with no new cases. 95.3% of patients unvaccinated. 21 hospitalized, no deaths. MMR vaccinations in Spartanburg rose 93.6% during response.

Ended Spartanburg 997 cases · 21 hospitalized

Utah, USA Jun 2025 – Present

Utah Outbreak: 625 Confirmed, Still Active

Became US epicenter after SC ended. 428+ cases in 2026. 47 hospitalized. Utah Dept of Health issued early vaccination guidance for exposed infants.

Active Community Spread 625 cases · 47 hospitalized

Texas, USA 2025 – Present

Texas 2025 Outbreak: 2 Children Died; 2026 Surge Continues

West Texas/Gaines County 2025 outbreak killed two unvaccinated children. 2026: 181 cases statewide, mostly in immigration detention facilities (Hudspeth 136). Austin reported first Travis County case May 8, 2026.

Detention Centers Pediatric Deaths 181 cases (2026) · 2 deaths (2025)

Bangladesh Mar 2026 – Present

2026 Bangladesh Measles Emergency

6,819 laboratory-confirmed cases and 344 child deaths as of May 2026. 49,159+ suspected cases. 58/64 districts affected. Single-day record: 17 child deaths on May 4. Mass vaccination campaign underway.

WHO DON Pediatric 344 child deaths

United States 2025 – 2026

US Records 2,287 Cases in 2025; 1,714+ in 2026 YTD

Worst years since elimination declared in 2000. 48 outbreaks in 2025. 17 new outbreaks in 2026. CDC reports 94% of 2026 cases are outbreak-associated across 33 jurisdictions.

CDC National 4,000+ total (2025–26)

Samoa 2019

Samoa 2019: 5,700 Cases, 83 Deaths

After MMR vaccination rate collapsed to ~31%, measles devastated the island nation. Mostly children. Led to mandatory vaccination laws and global wake-up call on vaccine hesitancy.

Historical Pacific 83 deaths

Europe 2024 – 2025

Europe: 127,412 Cases in 2024; Still Elevated in 2025

Largest setback in measles elimination in years. 19 countries with endemic transmission. 33,998 cases in 2025. France, Romania, UK among hardest hit. 8 deaths in EU/EEA in 2025.

WHO Europe Endemic 8 deaths (EU 2025)

England 2026

England: 195 Confirmed Jan–Mar 2026

North London cluster drives 2026 numbers. UKHSA publishes monthly breakdowns by age, region, and local authority. Catch-up MMR clinics deployed in affected areas.

UKHSA London 195 confirmed

Major measles epidemics with confirmed case and victim counts

Public Health Failures

United States 2024–2026

Kindergarten MMR Coverage Falls to 92.5%

CDC: coverage dropped from 95.2% (2019–20) to 92.5% (2024–25), leaving ~286,000 kindergartners unprotected. Below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity — enabling outbreaks when imported cases arrive.

Vaccine Gap CDC Data

Texas Detention 2026

Measles in Immigration Detention: 136+ Cases

Majority of Texas 2026 cases in federal detention centers (Hudspeth, El Paso). Congregate settings with unvaccinated detainees. Human rights groups cite inadequate vaccination and medical access.

Detention Congregate

Texas 2025

Two Unvaccinated Children Died in West Texas Outbreak

Gaines County outbreak killed two children — among the first US measles deaths in years. Families had declined MMR vaccination. Highlighted dangers of exemption clusters in rural communities.

Pediatric Deaths Victims

Bangladesh May 2026

344 Child Deaths; Testing & Treatment Capacity Overwhelmed

Hospitals report shortages of measles tests and ICU beds. 82% of cases in children under five. Health system struggled despite emergency vaccination of 17M+ children by late May.

Victims Health System

Global Ongoing

Anti-Vaccine Misinformation Fuels Hesitancy

Social media campaigns against MMR linked to resurgence worldwide. False autism claims debunked repeatedly. WHO names vaccine hesitancy a top-10 global health threat.

Misinformation WHO

Canada Nov 2025

Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status

PHAC confirmed sustained transmission exceeding 12 months — first loss of elimination since verification began. Multi-province outbreak continues into 2026.

Elimination Lost PHAC

South Carolina 2025–2026

95.3% of Outbreak Cases Were Unvaccinated

Nearly all 997 Spartanburg-area cases lacked MMR protection. Religious and personal belief exemptions concentrated in affected communities. Outbreak cost $2.1M in public health response.

Unvaccinated Exemptions

Europe 2025

8 Measles Deaths in EU/EEA; Endemic in 19 Countries

France (4), Romania (3), Netherlands (1) reported deaths. European Regional Verification Commission: worst elimination setback in recent history. Travel spreads virus across borders.

Deaths ECDC

Vaccine gaps, misinformation, and failures that enable measles spread

Measles News

Texas Tribune May 2026

Austin Reports First 2026 Travis County Measles Case

Unvaccinated man with international travel visited St. David's Emergency Center May 4. Austin Public Health issued exposure notice. Texas at 181+ confirmed cases statewide in 2026.

Texas

ABC News Apr 26, 2026

South Carolina Outbreak Declared Over After 997 Cases

Largest US outbreak in 35+ years ended after 42 days with no new cases. Spartanburg County saw 21 hospitalizations, no deaths. MMR vaccinations surged 93.6% during response.

South Carolina

AHA News May 1, 2026

Utah Reaches 625 Cases; Becomes US Epicenter

Utah Dept of Health reports 625 confirmed cases as of April 28. 47 hospitalized. South Carolina outbreak ended; Utah now leads active US transmission.

Utah

CDC Apr 10, 2026

US Surpasses 1,714 Confirmed Measles Cases in 2026

33 jurisdictions reporting. 94% outbreak-associated. 17 new outbreaks in 2026. Follows 2,287 cases in full year 2025 — worst since 2000 elimination.

National

WHO May 2026

Bangladesh: 344 Child Deaths in Measles Outbreak

6,819 confirmed cases, 49,000+ suspected. Emergency vaccination of 20M children targeted. Dhaka informal settlements hardest hit. 17 deaths in single day reported May 4.

Bangladesh

CIDRAP Apr 2026

US Cases Near 1,800; Texas Detention Centers Drive Spread

Most of Texas's 175+ cases linked to federal immigration detention facilities in Hudspeth and El Paso counties. National case count continues climbing into spring 2026.

Texas

GOV.UK Mar 2026

England: 195 Confirmed Cases Jan–Mar 2026

UKHSA data shows ongoing transmission, concentrated in North London. Monthly updates by age, region, and local authority published for clinicians and public.

WHO / UNICEF Feb 2026

Europe Cases Down 75% in 2025 — Risk Remains High

33,998 cases in Europe/Central Asia 2025 vs 127,412 in 2024. Still far above most years since 2000. 19 countries with endemic transmission.

Europe

Public Health Ontario Apr 28, 2026

Ontario Reports 23 Measles Cases in 2026

Canada lost measles elimination status Nov 2025. Multi-jurisdictional outbreak continues. Cases span several public health units across the province.

Canada

CNN Jan 2026

South Carolina Outbreak Largest Since US Elimination

Before it ended in April, the Spartanburg-centered outbreak became the largest single US measles outbreak in more than three decades, with nearly 1,000 confirmed cases.

South Carolina

CDC 2025 data

MMR Kindergarten Coverage Hits 92.5% — Below Herd Threshold

SchoolVaxView: ~286,000 kindergartners at risk in 2024–25 school year. Local pockets have far lower rates, enabling outbreaks when measles is imported via travel.

Vaccination

Texas Tribune Apr 2026

Most Texas Measles Cases in Federal Detention Centers

Hudspeth County accounts for 136 of 181 Texas cases. West Texas Detention Facility and Camp East Montana implicated. DSHS tracking spread across Bandera, Harris, Rockwall counties.

Texas

Last updated: May 17, 2026 — CDC, WHO, state health depts.