Follow-Up: CDC Confirms Third Measles-Related Death in 2026, U.S. Cases Hold at 4,410
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed on its measles cases and outbreaks data page that measles-related deaths in the United States in 2026 have risen to three. The federal count stood at two in GSM's report earlier today based on CDC data; the updated page adds one death. In a footnote, the CDC says the number is subject to change and that it will update its reporting as additional information becomes available and relevant reviews are completed. According to Reuters, the CDC did not specify in which states the deaths occurred, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the CDC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The case total is unchanged: as of October 15, the CDC counts 4,410 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026, reported by 47 jurisdictions, plus 18 cases among international visitors. There have been 42 outbreaks reported in 2026, and 96 percent of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated. The CDC also says it is working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) to develop a standardized case definition for deaths due to measles, to promote consistent classification and reporting across jurisdictions.
The gap between federal and state counts remains: Pennsylvania's health department reports five measles-related deaths in that state this year, above the CDC's confirmed national figure. Pennsylvania is the hardest-hit state in this year's outbreak, and GSM previously reported that the CDC has sent additional personnel to the state at its request to help with the investigation. CDC data also show that MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners fell to 92.4 percent in the 2025-2026 school year, below the 95 percent community-protection target, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）位于亚特兰大的 Tom Harkin 全球传播中心及 CDC 标识（资料图）。CDC 公共健康图像库 PHIL 8876，公共领域／Photo: The CDC's Tom Harkin Global Communications Center in Atlanta, with the CDC sign (file photo). CDC Public Health Image Library PHIL 8876, public domain
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