The United States is experiencing a renewed wave of vaccine-preventable illnesses driven by falling immunization coverage and amplified misinformation. National public health data show a sharp rise in measles cases this year and a simultaneous uptick in pertussis (commonly known as whooping cough), while authorities also monitor an international Ebola threat and continuing COVID-19 hotspots. Experts warn that weakened local health capacity and declining public trust in vaccines are central to the problem.

So far this year there have been 1,983 measles cases nationally, approaching the 2,288 cases recorded in all of 2026, which itself was the highest annual total since 1991. Midyear counts indicate that 12 states and the District of Columbia have already surpassed their full-year 2026 measles totals, underscoring the speed and breadth of the resurgence.

Where outbreaks are concentrated

Several states have become focal points. South Carolina reported the country’s largest outbreak in decades with 669 cases and later declared that outbreak over in April. The cluster centered in Spartanburg County, where religious exemptions and low vaccine uptake rose significantly. Utah has seen 484 cases originating in the Short Creek area on the Utah/Arizona border, a community with historically low vaccination coverage; officials say that outbreak is beginning to slow.

Additional state-level surges

Other states show dramatic year-to-year increases: Florida has recorded 139 cases compared with 8 in 2026, and Virginia has 63 cases versus 6 in all of 2026. Public health leaders emphasize that localized communities with gaps in vaccine coverage can amplify transmission and seed wider outbreaks.

Health consequences and system strain

Clinicians report serious complications among those infected. Dozens of measles patients required hospitalization with conditions such as encephalitis and pneumonia; one infant developed life-threatening congenital measles during pregnancy but survived. On the respiratory front, whooping cough is resurging as well, with Ohio and Florida among the hardest hit. Last year saw 22 deaths attributed to pertussis, the highest toll since 2010, including multiple infant fatalities across several states.

Public health capacity under pressure

Experts say state and local health departments are already stretched thin. Dr. Andrew Pavia, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Utah, noted at a briefing for the Infectious Diseases Society of America on May 26 that limited staffing and resources hinder rapid outbreak control. He and others point to a delayed legal dispute over $11 billion in federal public health funding cuts as a factor that undercuts local response capabilities.

Drivers: misinformation, exemptions and funding

Public health specialists trace the resurgence to a combination of factors: growing vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation, increased use of exemptions in certain communities, and reductions in the workforce and funding that make containment more difficult. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stressed that rising pertussis deaths — particularly among infants — highlight the critical role of vaccination in preventing needless loss.

Analogy and warning

Calling unvaccinated populations “fuel for the wildfire” of infectious disease, Dr. Pavia warned that without restored confidence in vaccines and stronger public health investment, more outbreaks are likely and some could become very large. He emphasized that improving measles vaccine coverage and reversing funding reductions are essential to prevent further spread.

Global and related threats

While domestic outbreaks escalate, officials are also responding to international risks. The administration announced a quarantine center in Kenya that opened on May 29 for Americans exposed to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the move drew criticism from the Infectious Diseases Society of America over concerns about resources, timing and care standards. A CDC directive on May 22 barred entry to non-citizens who had been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. In the affected region the outbreak has killed 224 people, with more than 900 suspected cases.

At the same time, the administration’s characterization of COVID-19 as a ‘‘non-existent pandemic’’ in the funding rationale contrasts with continuing domestic impacts: COVID-19 is still causing over 1,000 deaths per month in the U.S., and wastewater surveillance shows ongoing hotspots in parts of the Appalachian region and states such as Michigan.

What families can do

Health professionals advise parents and communities to follow established public health guidance: maintain up-to-date immunizations, especially for children and pregnant people; seek reliable information from trusted sources; and participate in local vaccination events when offered. Following these steps can prevent severe illness and reduce the burden on strained health systems.

Maintaining vigilance, restoring funding for local health departments and rebuilding public trust in vaccines are the steps experts say are needed to reverse these trends and protect vulnerable populations.