US May Lose Measles-Free Status Amid Surge

The United States could lose its measles-elimination status as the Pan American Health Organization reviews whether measles has spread continuously in the country for more than 12 months. The U.S. recorded 5,182 cases in 2026, up from more than 2,200 in 2025, alongside six measles-related deaths this year. Public-health experts say the resurgence is driven by falling vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy, not a change in the virus or failure of the MMR vaccine; only 4% of this year’s cases were among people known to be vaccinated. Outbreaks have affected multiple states, including Kentucky, with more than 200 cases across 14 counties, and Ohio, with 202 cases reported.