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Measles has become so rare in many wealthy nations that many physicians have never treated a single patient with the disease. However, this situation is changing with alarming speed. In 2026, this preventable illness is surging globally at rates not witnessed in decades. New data released by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals a troubling trend. After years of steady progress toward eliminating the virus, reported measles cases increased by 45% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Experts estimate that the total number of infections worldwide may have reached nearly 10 million during 2025. Death rates are rising in parallel, with an estimated 136,000 fatalities. The virus is capitalizing on gaps in vaccination coverage that expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initial symptoms often resemble a severe cold, including a high fever, persistent cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days later, a distinctive red rash typically appears, starting on the face and spreading downward over the body.
While most people recover, the disease can lead to severe and sometimes deadly complications. Pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles, is a frequent threat. Another dangerous complication is encephalitis, which is a severe swelling of the brain. Measles also damages the immune system itself by wiping out the body's memory of how to fight other diseases. This phenomenon, known as "immune amnesia," can leave survivors vulnerable to other infections, such as tuberculosis, for months or even years afterward.
"The virus is a master of immune suppression," explains Rik de Swart, a virologist at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands. His research indicates that the virus attacks the very cells responsible for coordinating the body's long-term defenses.