Michigan health officials warn of measles risk as schools prepare to reopen

Michigan health officials warned Thursday that measles cases are rising as schools prepare to reopen, with 2026 cases already surpassing the state’s full-year total for 2025.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said the country is experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991. The CDC declared measles eliminated in the United States in 2000 after years of declining cases and mass vaccination.

Health officials pointed to falling MMR vaccination rates and misinformation about vaccines. Dr. Ryan Malosh of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said measles vaccination coverage needs to be about 95% to prevent outbreaks, while 2025 nationwide coverage was 92.5%.

MDHHS said Michigan has had 14 confirmed measles cases so far this year, all in unvaccinated people. Twelve cases involved people under age 18, and half were in Washtenaw County earlier this year.

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