We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming

March 13, 2026

Here's something that might surprise you — measles, a disease many thought was on the decline, is making a serious comeback in the US. Jennifer B. Nuzzo and Andrea Uhlig from The Conversation point out that, between 1993 and 2024, measles cases were pretty rare — just a few hundred a year. But now, since early 2025, the disease's been spreading relentlessly. Outbreaks started in Texas, then moved to Utah, Arizona, and South Carolina, with cases popping up in over thirty states. As of March 2026, health officials have confirmed around 1,300 infections, and that number's climbing. What’s alarming, according to Nuzzo and Uhlig, is that this resurgence isn’t just about measles. It’s a grim warning — one that suggests our ability to contain infectious diseases is weakening. So what does this mean for the future? Well, it’s a stark sign that we need to rethink how we handle vaccinations and public health. The resurgence of measles isn’t just about one disease — it’s a warning shot for what’s next.

In the three decades between 1993 and 2024, measles in the US was relatively rare—a few hundred cases each year, at most. But suddenly, the disease has become so entrenched in American life that it sometimes fails to make headlines when a new outbreak erupts.

As of March 2026, measles has been continuously circulating around the US for more than a year, starting with an outbreak in Texas that lasted from January to August 2025. Before that outbreak was declared over, an outbreak on the Utah and Arizona border began in August and is ongoing. An outbreak in South Carolina began in September, drastically increased in January 2026, and continues.

Thirty states have had measles cases this year; 47 have seen cases since the start of 2025. Health officials across the US have confirmed 1,300 infections already this year as of March 6, putting the country on track to surpass 2025’s numbers, which were the highest in 35 years.

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