Yes, several infections that cause skin rashes are circulating at higher-than-usual levels across the United States right now. Measles cases have surged dramatically, parvovirus B19 (fifth disease) activity has spiked, and hand, foot, and mouth disease is hitting harder than in previous years. Which one you or your child might be dealing with depends on what the rash looks like, where it started, and what other symptoms came with it.
Measles Is Spreading in Dozens of States
Measles is the most serious rash-causing infection circulating right now. As of late February 2026, over 1,136 confirmed cases have been reported across 28 states, with 90% of those cases linked to outbreaks that began in 2025 and continued into 2026. States affected include Texas, California, New York, Ohio, Florida, Oregon, Washington, and many others. Ten new outbreaks were reported in 2026 alone.
A measles rash typically starts on the face and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, and legs. It appears as flat red spots that can merge together. Before the rash shows up, you’ll usually have a high fever (often above 104°F), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes for a few days. The rash itself tends to arrive around day three or four of the fever. Measles is extremely contagious. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room. If you or your child haven’t been vaccinated and you’ve been near a confirmed case, the rash could very well be measles.
Fifth Disease Has Surged Since 2024
Parvovirus B19, the virus behind fifth disease, saw a sharp increase in activity starting in mid-2024 that health officials flagged as unusual. Among children aged 5 to 9, the proportion showing signs of recent infection jumped from 15% to 40% in just a few months. Across all ages, markers of recent infection rose from under 3% to 10%. This wave has continued to circulate.
Fifth disease is sometimes called “slapped cheek” because its hallmark is bright red flushing on both cheeks, almost like a sunburn. That facial rash usually appears about a week to ten days after an initial phase of mild cold-like symptoms, and it can be followed one to four days later by a lacy, net-like rash on the arms, legs, or trunk. Joint pain is common in adults, sometimes without much visible rash at all. By the time the rash appears, you’re typically no longer contagious, which is why it spreads so easily through schools and daycare centers before anyone realizes what’s going on.
Fifth disease is mild for most people, but it poses real risks during pregnancy. The CDC noted reports of severe fetal anemia requiring transfusions and even pregnancy loss linked to parvovirus B19 infections. It can also trigger a dangerous drop in red blood cell production in people with sickle cell disease.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Is Higher Than Usual
Hand, foot, and mouth disease has been running above normal levels in 2025, with Virginia’s health department reporting significant increases in emergency department visits and outbreaks compared to previous years. Most outbreaks have centered on K-12 schools and childcare centers, though adults can catch it too. The disease peaks in summer and fall but can appear any time of year.
This one is usually easy to spot. It starts with a fever, sore throat, and general crankiness (especially in young kids), followed within a day or two by small, painful sores inside the mouth and a rash of flat red spots or small blisters on the palms, soles of the feet, and sometimes the buttocks or legs. The blisters are usually small, not itchy, and resolve on their own within a week to ten days. It spreads through saliva, blister fluid, and stool, so frequent handwashing is the main way to slow transmission.
Scarlet Fever Peaks in Winter and Spring
Scarlet fever, caused by the same bacteria behind strep throat, follows a predictable seasonal pattern with cases climbing in winter and spring. The rash feels like sandpaper: tiny raised bumps that start on the chest and abdomen before spreading outward. It often shows up alongside a sore throat, fever, and a “strawberry tongue” that looks red and bumpy. Unlike the viral rashes above, scarlet fever responds to antibiotics, and treatment typically clears symptoms within a few days.
Tick-Borne Rashes Increase as Weather Warms
If your rash is a single expanding ring or oval rather than a widespread eruption, Lyme disease is worth considering. Ticks are already active in many parts of the country, and public health officials in states like Maine are flagging 2025 as another high-activity year following a record 2024 season. The classic Lyme rash, called a “bull’s-eye,” appears at the site of the tick bite, usually three to 30 days after the bite occurs. It expands gradually over days and can reach several inches across. Not everyone notices the tick or gets the bull’s-eye pattern, so any expanding round rash after spending time outdoors warrants attention.
Mpox Remains Low Risk for Most People
Mpox continues to circulate globally, though at levels far below its 2022 peak. A newer strain called clade Ib has been detected in the U.S. and several other countries, with community transmission confirmed. However, the World Health Organization assesses the risk to the general population as low. Most cases are occurring among men who have sex with men, and the international public health emergency was lifted in September 2025. Mpox lesions look distinct from other rashes: they start as flat spots, progress to firm raised bumps, then fill with fluid and pus before crusting over. They tend to appear on the face, hands, feet, or genital area.
How to Tell These Rashes Apart
The location where the rash starts and the symptoms that come with it are your best clues:
- Starts on the face, spreads down the body, with high fever and cough: likely measles
- Bright red cheeks with a lacy rash on the body, mild or no fever: likely fifth disease
- Small blisters on palms, soles, and inside the mouth: likely hand, foot, and mouth disease
- Sandpaper-textured rash with sore throat and fever: likely scarlet fever
- Single expanding ring or oval at a bite site: likely Lyme disease
- Firm bumps that blister and crust, especially on hands, face, or genitals: possible mpox
Rashes accompanied by small blisters tend to be viral. A rash that feels rough and textured points more toward a bacterial cause. Color helps too: drug reactions and some bacterial rashes often look darker or more purple-toned compared to the brighter red of most viral rashes.
Signs a Rash Needs Urgent Attention
Most circulating rashes resolve on their own, but certain warning signs change the equation. Difficulty breathing or swallowing alongside a rash, swelling of the eyes or lips, or a rash that appears as spreading dark purple or red patches that don’t fade when you press on them all warrant immediate medical care. A stiff neck with fever and rash is another combination that shouldn’t wait. For any rash with a persistent high fever, especially in young children or pregnant women, getting evaluated sooner rather than later helps rule out the infections that carry real consequences.