As of January 7th 2026 Measles Rates are the highest they’ve been since the US eliminated the disease (the disease had not spread continuously for at least 12 months.) in 2000. Since just the start of 2026, there have already been three cases. The United States reported more than 2,100 cases last year in 2025.

If you have never heard of Measles, it is an extremely contagious virus. You were most likely given a vaccine in your younger years so you could attend daycare, elementary school, and most areas where people are held together in crowds. You are completely safe of Measles if you were given the shot but if you may become a carrier. 

Measles symptoms include full body rashes, high fevers, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and red watery eyes. The rash normally begins at your hairline and slowly spreads down your face to your body during a six day time period. Diarrhea and ear infections are also common symptoms. A common misconception is that you need to be in close contact to contract the virus. This is untrue, you don’t.

The virus spreads through airborne droplets-which is when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breaths on another. Shared air in a room– Measles can linger up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves. Touching contaminated surfaces– touching surfaces infected and then touching your mouth, eyes, and nose.

Now you may ask how the United States is working to eliminate Measles again? To stop Measles at least 95% of a population needs to be vaccinated. The US is going to keep these vaccination rates high by far using enhanced epidemiological monitoring which will detect measles cases quickly and trace contacts to interrupt outbreaks before they grow.