Key Takeaway:
- The California measles cases total reached 52 in 2026 so far, more than double the 25 cases reported during all of 2025, with most infections occurring in unvaccinated children and young adults.
- Recent cases linked to international travel have prompted exposure alerts at Los Angeles International Airport, as health officials monitor potential community spread.
- Health authorities urge MMR vaccination before the new school year, emphasizing it as the most effective way to prevent severe illness and outbreaks.
California has confirmed 52 measles cases in the first 6½ months of 2026, more than double the 25 reported during all of 2025, as health officials urge vaccinations amid rising infections among children and young adults.
California measles cases are increasing at their fastest pace in more than a decade, putting the state on track for its highest annual total since 2015, according to the California Department of Public Health. Of the 52 confirmed cases this year, 49 involved people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. Four patients required hospitalization.
Children and young adults account for most of the California measles cases reported this year. State data show 27 cases involved people ages 5 to 19, while 15 cases were among children younger than 5. Los Angeles County has reported seven cases this year, and Orange County has confirmed four, as measles virus strikes the unvaccinated across the state.
Nationally, measles also continues to spread, a trend mirrored by the rise in California measles cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,260 cases by mid-July, nearly matching the 2,289 recorded during all of 2025. The agency said 93% of confirmed cases are linked to outbreaks, with 34 outbreaks reported so far this year.
Airport exposures trigger public health alerts
Health officials continue to investigate new exposures tied to international travel.
The latest confirmed case involves a juvenile who had been living abroad and traveled through Los Angeles International Airport after arriving on Delta Air Lines Flight 614 from Cancún, Mexico, on July 16. Officials said the child was contagious while passing through the airport.
People who were near Gate 206 shortly after the flight arrived or in the baggage claim area between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. may have been exposed. Health departments in Los Angeles and Orange counties said passengers seated near the infected traveler and others exposed in health care settings will be contacted directly. Officials advised potentially exposed individuals to monitor for symptoms through Aug. 6.
Earlier this month, another infectious traveler passed through LAX after arriving on a British Airways flight from London. Health officials also identified possible exposures at an airport shuttle.
The World Health Organization lists Mexico among the countries experiencing measles outbreaks, increasing the risk associated with international travel.
Officials stress vaccination before school year
Public health officials continue to emphasize vaccination as the most effective protection against measles, especially as schools prepare to reopen.
“As measles cases increase, it is important that residents take steps to make sure they are fully protected. The MMR vaccine is the safest and most reliable way to prevent measles and protect yourself, your family, and your community,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer. He said measles can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and death.
State officials said infants younger than 1 are especially vulnerable because many have not yet received their routine measles vaccination. Since 2020, 11 of the California measles cases documented in infants younger than 1 have mostly been linked to international travel.
“Measles doesn’t only affect people who travel or live internationally; everyone is at risk if they’re not protected,” said Dr. Anissa Davis, deputy county health officer in Orange County. “The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated before exposure occurs.”
California recommends an early MMR vaccine dose for infants ages 6 to 11 months who will travel internationally or to areas experiencing outbreaks. Health officials also advise families with children ages 1 to 3 who plan international travel to discuss an early second vaccine dose with their pediatrician, per the CDC’s measles vaccination guidance.
“The rise in measles cases nationally is a reminder that we cannot let our guard down against serious and highly contagious diseases,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer.
