CDC Notes Low Overall Respiratory Illnesses Amid Rising COVID-19 in Western and Southern US, Measles Cases Exceed 2,500 for 2026

CDC data indicates low acute respiratory illness levels nationally, though COVID-19 activity is rising in the US West and South. Concurrently, 2,566 measles cases have been confirmed in the US for 2026, marking the highest annual total in over 35 years. This resurgence, primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals, underscores persistent public health vulnerabilities and the importance of vaccination programs.