US has lost measles elimination status, global health authorities say
The U.S. has lost its status as a country where measles is eliminated, according to researchers with direct knowledge of the deliberations at the Pan American Health Organization.
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.
Written by urgent.news from KFF Health News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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