The United States is grappling with its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, fueled by rising vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

According to figures released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2,318 confirmed cases have been recorded since the start of 2026, already surpassing last year’s total of 2,289, which included three deaths.

“This is an avoidable crisis that disproportionately harms children,” warned Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We should not accept this as our new normal.”

Measles, once declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, has resurged as vaccination rates decline. The disease, which causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and rashes, can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation.

Health experts point to growing distrust in public health authorities and the spread of anti-vaccine sentiment as key drivers. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been accused of amplifying vaccine skepticism, worsening the crisis.

South Carolina currently reports the highest number of infections, with epidemiologist Melissa Nolan warning that underdiagnosis may mean the true toll is even higher. She cautioned that measles is only the beginning: “We’re going to start seeing more pertussis cases and other vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Non-medical vaccine exemptions, often based on religious or philosophical grounds, have surged since the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside misinformation campaigns. A 2025 poll found one in six American parents delay or avoid vaccinating their children, particularly in white and conservative communities.

The last comparable outbreak was in 1991, when 9,643 cases were reported. Experts fear the current surge could signal a broader rollback of decades of progress against preventable diseases.