CDC chief says agency will not change measles response if US loses elimination status

Key Points:

• The US CDC will maintain its current measles outbreak response regardless of whether the US loses its official measles elimination status, a designation held since 2000, according to CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz.
• The Pan American Health Organization is expected to decide soon if the US has lost its measles-free status amid the highest number of infections in over 30 years, with nearly 5,200 confirmed cases in 2026 and 11 deaths since early 2025.
• CDC efforts remain focused on promoting the MMR vaccine as the primary prevention method, especially targeting closely knit communities with historically low vaccination rates, such as certain religious groups.
• US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s skepticism toward the MMR vaccine and efforts to reduce childhood immunizations have been criticized by medical experts for contributing to declining vaccination rates.
• Dr. Schwartz affirmed her leadership independence at the CDC, stating that Secretary Kennedy respects her authority and that she is responsible for directing the agency's response to the measles outbreak.