US Loses Measles Elimination Status After 26 Years Amidst Major Outbreak
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
The United States has lost its "measles elimination" status for the first time in 26 years due to a continuous local outbreak. The country is facing its worst measles epidemic in three decades, with thousands infected and deaths reported. Declining vaccination rates and proposed changes to vaccine schedules are cited as contributing factors. Health experts warn of potential spread to Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The US lost its measles elimination status after 26 years due to ongoing local transmission.
- The country is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in over 30 years, with thousands infected.
- Declining vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy are contributing to the surge in cases.
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposed vaccine changes face criticism.
- Experts warn of potential measles transmission from New York outbreaks to Israel.
The United States has lost its "measles elimination" status for the first time in 26 years, according to informed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional arm of the World Health Organization, made the decision due to the continuous local transmission and outbreak of the virus for over a year. This development occurs as the U.S. experiences its worst measles outbreak in three decades, with approximately 7,500 infections and 13 deaths reported since the start of 2025. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates over 5,000 cases in 2026 alone, more than double the total for all of 2025.
The surge in cases is linked to declining vaccination rates and increased vaccine hesitancy. Contributing to this is a push by U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reduce routine childhood vaccinations and separate the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine into three individual shots. This initiative has drawn significant criticism from health experts concerned about its negative impact on immunization levels.
Professor Cyril Cohen, head of the Immunology Lab and a researcher at Bar-Ilan University, had previously warned about the potential for the infection to spread to Israel. He noted that outbreaks in New York, home to large Jewish communities with active travel to and from Israel, could lead to imported cases and the ignition of local outbreaks.
The U.S. originally achieved measles elimination status in 2000 following extensive vaccination campaigns, signifying the absence of sustained local transmission. Health specialists emphasize that measles is highly contagious and can cause fatal complications or brain damage. They stress that two vaccine doses provide 97% protection, while herd immunity requires a vaccination rate of 95% of the population.