Fastrack · US Measles Cases Surpass 5,000, CDC Reports

Confirmed US measles cases this year have passed 5,000, according to updated CDC data. The total stands at 5,182 across 45 states and Washington, D.C.

330 new cases were added since the CDC's previous weekly update.
8 deaths reported by states: six in Pennsylvania, one each in New York and Wisconsin.
96% of cases are unvaccinated people or people with unknown status.
562 hospitalizations are linked to measles this year.

Why it matters: New York and Wisconsin reported their first measles deaths in decades this week. Kindergarten MMR vaccination fell to 92.4% in 2025-26, down from 95.2% in 2019-20.

The CDC has confirmed four of the eight deaths and calls the figure subject to change.
$100 million in CDC funding has gone to vaccine-preventable disease response, the Trump administration says.

The story so far

4 steps · since Nov 2

Nov 2New York Reports First Measles Death in 30 Years27 sources
Nov 4Pennsylvania Reports Sixth Measles Death Amid Outbreak12 sources
Nov 5Wisconsin Measles Death Marks State's First Since 199015 sources
Nov 6US Measles Cases Surpass 5,000, CDC ReportsYou are hereLatest

How 10 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 10 sources

10 sources · 10 articles · 50% Center coverage

Where they split: The two sides disagree on whether the federal death count is a cautious tally or a lag behind state reporting that hides the outbreak's toll.

Center coverage, 5 sources: The center focuses on the data: rising cases, confirmed deaths, falling vaccination rates and the CDC's dosing guidance.

Yahoo News3dMeasles cases surpass 5,000 in the US with infections confirmed in 45 states: CDC abc27 (WHTM)2dPennsylvania reaches 1,487 reported measles cases in Friday update Bloomberg3dMeasles Cases Top 5,000 First Time Since '90s...Forbes2dFormer FDA Chief Warns Measles Cases Are Being Underreported Amid 35-Year High WGAL 82dLancaster County introduces measles vaccine map as cases continue to rise

Left coverage, 2 sources: The left sees a record outbreak tied to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine stance, with his CDC undercounting the deaths.

The New Republic2dU.S. Hits Awful Measles Record as RFK Jr.’s CDC Hides Death Totals Al Jazeera2dCDC reports more than 5,000 measles cases, highest number in 35 years

Right coverage, 3 sources: The right reports the case surge alongside federal funding and Kennedy's charge that Democrats politicized the deaths.

Washington Examiner2dMeasles cases race past 5,000 nationwide: CDC Citizen Free Press2dMeasles cases top 5,000 for first time.The Washington Times2dMeasles cases nationwide surpass 5,000 for first time since 1991

What’s next: The Pan American Health Organization meets this month to review the US elimination status.

The US would lose that status if one viral strain has circulated for 12 months.
Will the CDC confirm the four deaths that states have reported?
Will the US keep the measles elimination status it has held since 2000?