In Sacramento, California, health officials are now warning of a possible measles explosion after more than 100 children were exposed to the contagious disease as part of an educational program, the New York Post reported Monday.
The alarm was raised after an unvaccinated child who contracted measles attended a program in Sacramento County last week. Public health officials estimate that as many as 130 children may have been exposed to the virus. In addition, the enrichment program temporarily closed its facility following the incident.
In a statement issued on March 6, CDPH director and state hygienist Dr. Erica Pan said measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can cause serious long-term complications, including permanent brain damage, and can even be fatal, especially in children.
At least six cases of measles have been reported in Sacramento and neighboring Placer County since late February. Concerns also spread to the local hospital, where one of the infected children was treated on March 2. Since then, the hospital must identify every patient and employee who was in the facility during that period.
Measles cases in the US
According to a CNN report, measles cases in the United States reached 1,100 by February 2026, raising alarm across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for every 1,000 children infected with measles, at least one is at risk of encephalitis, a dangerous swelling of the brain. It also suggests that out of every 1,000 infected children, at least three are likely to die from the viral disease.
At the current rate, Washington is expected to see a record number of measles cases this year. In the first two months of 2026, the country reported 1,136 cases, roughly six times the annual rate, CDC data showed.
Most cases reported in unvaccinated people
Reports indicate that nearly 96% of cases reported so far in 2026 were among people who were not vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or who did not receive the recommended dose.
Of the 96% of cases, at least 80% were among children and adolescents, with about one in four cases among children age 5 or younger. Meanwhile, more than half of US states reported at least one case of measles in 2026.
Experts say that while most cases of measles have been reported in children, the disease can prove just as dangerous for adults. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said people who are not vaccinated remain susceptible to contracting the virus. He added that the older a person is when infected, the greater the risk of serious illness, including complications such as pneumonia.
Measles cases in 2025
Last year, the U.S. reported about 2,300 measles cases, the most since 1991. The number of cases in 2025 exceeded any annual number, and the country claimed measles had been eliminated in 2000. Before 2025, the previous high was in 2019, when 1,274 cases were reported.
