Measles cases across the U.S. have climbed to more than 3,400 this year as health officials warn that travelers may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus at Philadelphia International Airport. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said a traveler with measles passed through the airport between 7:25 p.m. on September 13 and 12:05 a.m. on September 14. The traveler was in terminals B and F, as well as areas connecting to terminals C, D and E, but did not leave the airport.
The warning comes during a resurgence of measles cases across the country, with Pennsylvania currently the worst impacted state in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said 3,471 confirmed cases had been reported nationwide as of September 17, already exceeding the 2,289 cases recorded during the entirety of 2025. Officials have urged people who were in those areas during the exposure window to check whether they are protected against measles and monitor themselves for symptoms.
Those who are not immune, are unsure of their vaccination status, are infants, pregnant and not immune, or immunocompromised have been advised to contact a health care provider. People who may have been exposed and develop symptoms through October 5 should contact their doctor immediately and tell them about the possible exposure before arriving at a health care facility, the department said. The airport warning followed a separate possible measles exposure at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on September 11.
City officials said the two cases were not connected. "This week’s measles exposures are a reminder of how important it is for all of us to be up to date on our vaccinations," Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. "Every Philadelphian who is fully vaccinated has little to fear from the situation at CHOP and the airport.
Even more importantly, every one of those people is doing their part to help protect our most vulnerable from measles. With outbreaks continuing in Pennsylvania and other places, this is even more important." The CDC has recorded 39 new outbreaks in 2026, with 95 percent of confirmed cases—3,296 infections—associated with outbreaks. The agency's figures are updated weekly and include confirmed cases reported by state and local health departments.
The CDC says the state worst impacted by the measles outbreak this year is Pennsylvania, which has recorded 745 cases in 2026 alone, up from just 16 cases in 2025. South Carolina follows with 670 cases this year compared to 333 the year prior, and Utah has had 527 recorded infections compared with 189 in 2025. Other states that have recorded more than 100 cases this year are Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio and Arizona.
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