In the US, more than 982 cases of measles were confirmed in the first two months of 2026, a record increase compared to all of 2025, when 2,281 cases were reported[1][2]. The largest outbreak is in South Carolina with 632 confirmed cases, followed by Utah (117 cases), Florida (64 cases), Arizona (36 cases) and Washington (24 cases)[1]. Among all those infected, 94% are unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status[1][2]. Measles mainly affects children - 25% of cases affect children under five years of age and 84% of children and young people under 19 years of age[1]. Federal health representative Dr. Mehmet Oz urges people to get vaccinated, stressing that a vaccine is an affordable solution to this problem[4]. Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis and death – around three in every 1,000 infected children die from the disease[3].