Measles cases across the United States have climbed to levels not seen in years, with this year’s count already running at nearly double last year’s total.
The CDC reported 4,410 confirmed measles cases nationwide as of October 15, compared with 2,289 cases in all of 2025. Cases this year have been reported across 47 jurisdictions, with 42 new outbreaks recorded and 96% of confirmed cases tied to an outbreak. Two deaths have been reported nationally in 2026.
Federal officials attribute much of the surge to slipping vaccination rates: kindergarten MMR coverage has fallen from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025-2026, below the 95% level needed for community immunity and leaving roughly 280,000 kindergartners at risk. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000.
In New Jersey, the state Department of Health has confirmed two cases this year. As of October 14, no additional cases had been identified from the second case, and any secondary cases would be expected no later than October 23. There are currently no known active exposure locations in the state. As previously reported on TLS, the first case of the year was confirmed in April, involving a Hudson County resident who had recently traveled internationally.
Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears three to five days after symptoms begin. Complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, a swelling of the brain.
Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call their health care provider or local health department before visiting any medical facility, so special arrangements can be made to protect other patients and staff. Health officials also urge residents to make sure they are up to date on the MMR vaccine, especially before international travel; infants 6 to 11 months old should receive one dose of the vaccine before travel.
This is why I wear a blue disposable mask.
I ride public transportation and mask up. I also got a measles vax since I’m an elder with no knowledge of having measles in the past.
Scaredy cat baby.
Good humor. Clown mask.
Keep your kids home
In the mid-1900’s, everyone got measles, and no one died from it. Only in the late 1800’s-early 1900’s, when nutrition and sanitation were atrocious did some die.
Measles vax came out in 1963. Totally unnecessary, but they sold it through advertising – just as with Falserona vax – because people “remembered” a measles patient dying. Today, everyone knows someone who died from car, yet no one stopping to drive.
The measles still kills 10s of thousands of people worldwide annually. Before the vaccine it killed millions every year and several hundred in the US yearly.