**As of mid-September 2026, the U.S. has recorded 3,471 confirmed measles cases—already far exceeding the 2,289 total for all of 2025—with 39 outbreaks and 95% of cases linked to ongoing transmission, per CDC data.** This surge stems primarily from sustained outbreaks in under-vaccinated communities (93–95% of cases unvaccinated or unknown status), concentrated in states including Pennsylvania (hundreds of recent cases), South Carolina, Utah, and Texas. Hospitalizations stand near 9%, with four Pennsylvania deaths under review by the CDC. Weekly case additions have remained elevated, reflecting measles’ high transmissibility (R0 ~12–18) and pockets of declining MMR coverage since the pandemic. Traders monitoring this market will focus on CDC’s weekly updates through year-end, state surveillance reports, and any shifts in outbreak containment or vaccination uptake that could alter the final tally.