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Measles Cases Hit New Record in U.S., as Vaccination Rates Wane
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The United States has reported 2,318 confirmed measles cases in 2026, surpassing any year since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, signaling a potential return to widespread outbreaks.
- Measles cases in the past two years exceed the total reported from 2000 through 2024 combined, with a notable large outbreak in South Carolina affecting nearly 1,000 people.
- Efforts to reverse this trend face challenges under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has halted vaccine hesitancy research funding and downplayed measles risks.
- An international panel will meet in November to decide if the U.S. has lost its measles elimination status, a significant public health milestone.
- Experts warn that without increased vaccination rates, the country will remain vulnerable to ongoing measles outbreaks.
