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Measles outbreak declared in 3 Maryland counties after officials confirm 14 new cases
Maryland health officials said most cases are among household contacts as 31 infections were confirmed this year, including 27 since July 2026.
On Monday, the Maryland Department of Health declared a measles outbreak across St. Mary's, Carroll, and Cecil counties after confirming 14 new cases among unvaccinated residents, bringing the state's 2026 total to 31 confirmed cases.
Most recent infections occurred among household contacts with no evidence of widespread community transmission, health officials reported; 27 of the state's 31 cases were confirmed since July 15, all involving unvaccinated individuals.
Roughly 96% of Marylanders have vaccine-based protection against measles, and 96.7% of kindergartners were vaccinated for the 2025-2026 school year; health departments administered more than 106,000 MMR vaccinations statewide this year.
During a White House event, President Donald Trump claimed the combined MMR vaccine "could be quite lethal," though Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz argued it is "not a lethal vaccine."
Numerous studies over several decades found no evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend routine childhood vaccination against measles to prevent further spread.