Lost measles elimination status 'a cost of doing business,' CDC official says
statnews.com • • health
Key Points:
- Measles transmission in the U.S. has surged to levels unseen in decades, with over 2,200 confirmed cases in 2025 and 336 cases already reported in early 2026, raising concerns about the country's measles elimination status.
- CDC principal deputy director Ralph Abraham downplayed the potential loss of elimination status, attributing ongoing transmission to international travel and personal vaccination choices, emphasizing respect for individual freedoms.
- The CDC is assisting states in controlling outbreaks and promoting the MMR vaccine, despite criticism of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for not strongly advocating vaccination and fueling vaccine hesitancy.
- The U.S. achieved measles elimination status in 2000, but ongoing outbreaks may threaten this status
