U.S. Measles Cases Exceed Previous Year's Total by July

Why it matters locally: The rise in national measles cases highlights a potential public health concern that could necessitate increased vigilance and public health campaigns from the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments across the state.

The United States has recorded 2,318 measles cases through July of this year, according to a report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This count exceeds the 2,289 cases documented throughout all of last year. The CDC compiled these figures based on reports received up to this point in 2026.