Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ ↗
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HEALTH

The Claim

The United States has recorded 1,748 measles cases in 2026, which would be the highest annual total since 1991.

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The Short Version

The comparative claim fails on the facts. While the CDC does confirm 1,748 measles cases as of April 16, 2026, this is a partial-year count — and critically, the full year of 2025 already recorded approximately 2,288 cases, which was itself the highest annual total since 1991. Therefore, 1,748 cases would not represent the highest total since 1991; that distinction already belongs to 2025.

Caveats

  • The 1,748 figure is a partial-year count through April 16, 2026, not a completed annual total — comparing it directly to full-year historical figures is misleading.
  • The full year of 2025 recorded approximately 2,285–2,288 confirmed measles cases according to the CDC, already surpassing 1,748 and holding the actual 'highest since 1991' distinction.
  • While 2026 is on pace to potentially surpass 2025's total by year-end, as of the claim date it has not done so and cannot be declared a record year.

The Receipts

  1. Measles Cases and Outbreaks - CDC

    cdc.gov

  2. Public-Sector Vaccination Efforts in Response to the Resurgence of Measles Among Preschool-Aged Children -- United States, 1989-1991

    Public-Sector Vaccination Efforts in Response to the Resurgence of Measles Among Preschool-Aged Children -- United States, 1989-1991 - CDC

  3. Clinical Overview of Measles - CDC

    CDC

  4. US measles outbreak shows signs of slowing as WHO notes millions of lives saved in Africa by vaccination | CIDRAP

    cidrap.umn.edu

  5. Measles surveillance--United States, 1991

    Measles surveillance--United States, 1991 - PubMed

  6. US measles total surpasses 1,700 cases - CIDRAP

    CIDRAP

  7. US measles cases soar past 1,100 - CIDRAP - University of Minnesota

    CIDRAP - University of Minnesota

  8. US measles outbreak approaches 1,500 cases | CIDRAP

    CIDRAP

  9. Measles cases in the United States, 1919 to 2026 - Our World in Data

    Our World in Data

Filed Under

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMeaslesUnited States

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