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US May Lose 'Measles Free' Title Amid Outbreaks
1 Nov
Summary
- US measles elimination status to be reviewed by PAHO in April.
- Outbreaks reached a three-decade high in 2025.
- Vaccination rates have declined, impacting herd immunity.
The United States' status as a country free of measles is under review by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in April. This review follows widespread measles outbreaks that began in 2025 and reached a three-decade high by year's end. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously hailed the U.S. as having achieved a 'historic public health achievement' in eliminating measles.
Outbreaks, initially centered in Gaines County, Texas, spread to other states, including South Carolina. As of January 13, 2026, the CDC reported 171 confirmed measles cases across nine states, with 95% occurring in unvaccinated or unvaccinated individuals. PAHO already revoked Canada's elimination status in November.
'Elimination status' signifies no continuous spread of a disease for at least a year, with any new cases being imported. The U.S. achieved this status in 2000 due to effective vaccination programs. However, vaccination coverage among kindergartners has declined from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% in 2024-2025, falling below the herd immunity threshold.
Losing elimination status is largely symbolic but serves as a public health warning. Countries like Venezuela and Brazil have previously lost and regained their status through intensified vaccination and surveillance efforts. The article also notes shifts in vaccine policy, including changes to the childhood vaccine schedule potentially influenced by a growing anti-vaccine movement.
