From The Straits Times · · 1m 20s
US Loses Measles Elimination Status
US loses measles elimination status after 12 months of continuous spread.
In brief
US loses measles elimination status after 12 months of continuous spread. The US has lost measles elimination status after 12 months of continuous transmission, with 5,412 cases confirmed in 2026. Originally reported by The Straits Times.
Measles Cases Surge
The US has lost measles elimination status after continuous spread for 12 months, mainly linked to Utah’s outbreak and more than 700 cases.
CDC Confirms 5,412 Cases
The CDC confirmed 5,412 measles cases in 2026, the highest since 1991, with nine deaths and big outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Utah.
Vaccination Rates Decline
Vaccination rates declined as the pandemic increased distrust in federal health guidance, creating an opportunity for the virus to take hold again.
Utah Outbreak Details
Utah’s outbreak began in June 2025 and has infected more than 700 people, with only 87.2% of kindergartners vaccinated.
CDC Staff Cuts Impact
Under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CDC staff cuts and leadership changes weakened disease control efforts.
Measles Deaths Rise
The US has nine measles deaths this year, three times the toll in 2025, with Pennsylvania reporting its seventh death on Nov 13.
Measles Transmission Risk
The loss of elimination status may prompt travel warnings and vaccine advisories from other nations, as Canada lost its status a year ago.
In short
The US has lost measles elimination status after 12 months of continuous transmission, with 5,412 cases confirmed in 2026.
