WASHINGTON: The United States has recorded its worst measles outbreak since 1991, according to official figures released on Friday, a serious uptick in cases as vaccine hesitancy grows.

In just seven months of the current year, 2,318 confirmed cases of the highly contagious illness have been recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That surpasses the total for 2025, a year that had already shattered records, posting 2,289 cases and three deaths including two young children.

A total of 9,643 cases were reported in 1991.

“We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionately hurts children,” said Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Paediatrics.

Measles causes fever, respiratory symptoms and skin rashes.

In some cases, it can also lead to more severe complications including pneumonia and brain inflammation, which can lead to serious long-term impacts and death.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2026