Last year the United States had the most measles cases in 35 years, and with over 3,100 cases already this year, 2026 will far surpass last year. The back-to-school surge is already showing up.
On August 24 the Maryland Department of Health declared a measles outbreak in schools in three counties on the eastern shore (east of the Chesapeake Bay) with 14 confirmed cases of unvaccinated people. This brings Maryland’s total of confirmed measles cases this year to 31. Since at least the beginning of the year the state health officials have been preparing for the possibility of outbreaks and have mobilized to aggressively confront the threat. This year state health officials have already administered 106,000 vaccinations and are working with local health agencies to provide vaccination clinics and other measures. Hospitals across Maryland and adjacent states have implemented protocols which include screening and isolation.
