Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 5,000 in 2026, reaching their highest annual total in 35 years, according to the CDC

At least 562 people have been hospitalized, and state-level data indicates eight measles-related deaths this year

Health officials have linked the resurgence to declining vaccination rates, with 96% of cases involving people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown