Measles is now rapidly spreading in some communities with low vaccination rates, putting newborns at risk
September 9, 2026 - ITASCA, IL— The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), citing growing measles outbreaks nationwide and limited 
guidance available to pediatricians, has developed a new tool to help physicians care for infants exposed to or infected with measles.
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AAP infectious disease experts developed a frequently asked questions document, available in the AAP's Red Book: 2024-2027 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases online. The FAQ addresses prevention, diagnosis and management of measles in babies born to mothers who were infected with measles during pregnancy.
“Our goal is to help pediatricians care for newborns with congenital measles based on the existing evidence,” said AAP Chief Medical Officer Lee Beers, MD, FAAP. “While congenital measles was previously an uncommon condition and therefore the evidence is somewhat limited, this is an urgent need for pediatricians caring for patients in an active outbreak.”
Two infants recently died from measles-associated illness in Pennsylvania, where 577 cases had been reported as of Sept. 4. None of those who contracted the disease had been fully vaccinated. There are now outbreaks of measles in many areas of the country, including among pregnant women who have never been vaccinated or infected with measles.
As of Sept. 3, 2026, the CDC had reported 3,134 confirmed measles cases in the United States. The resurgence of this highly contagious disease marks a stark contrast to 2000, when measles was declared eliminated in the United States.
“Measles, especially in babies, is not just as simple as getting a rash and it going away,” said Pia Pannaraj, MD, MPH, FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases and a pediatrics professor at the University of California, San Diego. “It can have long-term consequences, including severe secondary infections as well as neurological complications down the road.”
Because scientific evidence continues to evolve as new cases emerge, the AAP notes that the FAQ will likely require ongoing review and updates. The authors cited existing case reports and data that informed their work and responses to questions. They note in the FAQ where the data is limited, especially as measles during pregnancy used to be rare and can be prevented with routine childhood vaccinations.
The AAP estimates that approximately 25% to 30% of infants born to mothers who contract measles in the days just before delivery may also become infected. Newborns with congenital measles can experience a wide range of outcomes, from no symptoms to classic measles rash, severe multi-organ disease or death.
Infants with congenital measles are also at increased risk of developing subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare and progressive inflammatory brain disease that typically appears years after infection and is almost always fatal. Infants may show no symptoms at birth but still begin to show signs of the disease within months or a few years later, Dr. Pannaraj said. “It's important the families are aware so they can watch for any missing milestones.”
Vaccination before pregnancy remains the safest and most effective way to prevent measles infection because the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy.
AAP recommends that children should routinely receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine at 12 months, and a second dose between ages 4 to 6. The AAP also recommends earlier vaccination in special circumstances.
“Many providers who have never seen measles except for the textbooks now need to look out for how to identify measles in their patients and what to do to protect them,” Dr. Pannaraj said. "This is an issue that isn't going away.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics