US Has Lost Measles Elimination Status, Global Health Authorities Say
All but vanquished a quarter century ago, measles has taken root again in the U.S. Compared with prior administrations, President Donald Trump’s second term has been marred by misinformation and actions that stifle public health.
The United States has lost its measles elimination status, according to global health authorities. Measles had been eliminated from the country a quarter-century ago, but has now reemerged with regular transmission. The Pan American Health Organization concluded that the United States was no longer measles-free after an outbreak in Utah expanded beyond a one-year period in June.
Measles outbreaks cost the U.S. roughly $125 million in medical care and productivity losses, with over 830 people hospitalized over the past two years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood vaccination rates have steadily declined, and some scientists blame the Trump administration for spreading vaccine misinformation and hindering outbreak responses.
The government's response to measles has been largely absent since 2025, despite past efforts to treat the disease as a preventable tragedy. Measles causes severe illness and can lead to complications like progressive nerve disease and death.
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- After 26 years, the US has lost its measles elimination status myjoyonline.com
