CDC reports 416 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. in 2026 as of January 22

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 416 confirmed measles cases have been recorded in the United States in 2026 as of January 22, based on confirmed cases reported to the agency by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday and published in an update dated January 23, 2026. The CDC data indicate the cases span multiple jurisdictions and are heavily associated with outbreak activity.

According to the CDC’s update, 413 of the confirmed cases are among U.S. residents across 14 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The CDC also reported three measles cases among international visitors to the United States, emphasizing that surveillance includes both resident and visitor cases when they are confirmed and reported.

The agency states that there have been zero new outbreaks reported that started in 2026, but the majority of cases are still outbreak-associated. Specifically, 94% of confirmed cases (393 of 416) are linked to outbreaks, and the CDC notes those outbreaks began in 2025 rather than in 2026. That detail matters for understanding the current trajectory: the year’s early case counts reflect ongoing transmission chains rather than entirely new clusters.

• CDC update date: January 23, 2026 (data through January 22, 2026).
• Confirmed U.S. cases in 2026 as of January 22: 416.
• Jurisdictions reporting resident cases: 14 (including CA, MN, NC, and WA).
• Outbreak association: 94% of cases (393 of 416) linked to outbreaks that began in 2025.

The CDC also highlighted vaccination coverage as a key vulnerability. The agency notes that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and that community protection is strongest when vaccination coverage exceeds 95%. However, the CDC’s published figures show U.S. kindergartner MMR coverage has declined from 95.2% in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.5% in the 2024–2025 school year, leaving a large number of children at risk and creating conditions where outbreaks can spread more easily.

Public health officials caution that coverage can vary substantially at local levels, meaning pockets of undervaccination can exist even in states with relatively strong overall rates. In practical terms, this can allow measles—one of the most contagious viral diseases—to move quickly through schools, households, and community settings, especially when exposures occur in crowded environments.

The CDC’s measles updates are scheduled regularly and provide a standardized picture of confirmed cases, outbreaks, and vaccination context. For families and clinicians, the takeaway is to verify immunization status, follow local public health guidance during outbreaks, and seek medical advice promptly when measles is suspected—particularly because early identification and isolation can reduce spread to unvaccinated infants, immunocompromised people, and others at higher risk of complications.