Halfway through 2026, the United States is experiencing its worst measles year in more than three decades. With the case count topping the US total for all of 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the country has already topped the total for all of 2025. As Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, put it, "Halfway into 2026, the U.S. is experiencing the worst year for measles since 1991."
The numbers behind the surge
As of July 23, 2026, 2,318 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. There have been 35 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and 93% of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated. The driver behind this resurgence is not mysterious. A critical driver of the ongoing crisis is the erosion of MMR vaccination coverage among kindergartners, with national coverage declining from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.5% in 2024–2025, falling below the 95% threshold required for community immunity. Among all measles patients, 93% are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccine status.
The consequences extend beyond case counts. The various outbreaks put the country at risk of losing its measles elimination status this year, a status the U.S. has held since 2000, meaning the virus was no longer spreading continuously for more than one year within the country; authorities will examine the U.S. measles status in November.
Why this matters at the front desk
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known, and it spreads well before a rash appears. According to the CDC, if one person has measles, up to nine out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected. For dental offices, oral surgery centers, and medical clinics, that means a febrile or recently-rashed patient in a waiting room can become an unintentional exposure event affecting staff, other patients, and their households — particularly infants too young to be vaccinated and immunocompromised patients who cannot receive the MMR vaccine.
Practical steps for practices
- Screen before the visit. Ask about fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis, and recent travel or known exposure when confirming appointments, especially for pediatric and elective procedures.
- Verify staff immunity. Confirm MMR vaccination status or documented immunity for all clinical and front-desk staff as part of routine occupational health records.
- Remember measles requires airborne precautions. Unlike many respiratory illnesses managed with a standard surgical mask, measles is transmitted via small airborne particles that can linger in a room after a patient leaves. Fit-tested N95 respirators — not surgical masks — are the appropriate respiratory protection for staff who may have contact with a suspected case.
- Have an isolation plan. Know which exam room can be closed off and ventilated if a suspected case presents, and have a protocol for notifying local public health authorities promptly.
With outbreak investigation and response consuming substantial state and local health department resources, and high transmission in under-vaccinated communities creating risk for immunocompromised individuals who cannot receive the MMR vaccine regardless of their willingness to do so, every point of care — including dental and outpatient settings — plays a role in early recognition. A brief refresher on screening questions and respiratory protection protocols this quarter is a low-cost, high-value step for any practice.