America Eliminated Measles 25 Years Ago. Now, the U.S. is About to Lose One Of Its Biggest Public Health Wins
The US is at risk of losing its measles elimination status due to rising cases and vaccine hesitancy, with 1,803 measles cases reported across 37 jurisdictions as of May 1, 2026. A new analysis suggests the country has missed four of seven benchmarks for maintaining elimination status.
The US is on track to lose its measles elimination status, achieved in 2000, due to a surge in cases driven by vaccine hesitancy. As of May 1, 2026, the CDC reported 1,803 measles cases across 37 jurisdictions. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School analyzed data using CDC indicators and found the country had missed four of seven benchmarks. The analysis showed 93.2 measles cases per 10 million people by February 17, 2026, far exceeding the suggested benchmark. Measles cases were no longer just imported but were circulating locally, with over 90% of cases being locally transmitted. The outbreak that started in Texas spread to 45 states, with 48 outbreaks reported in 2025.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.