Measles elimination status ‘not really’ a concern, CDC official says
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Ongoing measles outbreaks in South Carolina and other states threaten the US’s measles elimination status, with South Carolina's outbreak reaching at least 646 cases and expected to surpass last year’s West Texas outbreak of about 760 cases.
- CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Ralph Abraham downplayed concerns about losing elimination status, emphasizing that it would not lead to widespread measles or change key prevention strategies, while supporting vaccination as the most effective prevention method.
- The US recorded 2,242 measles cases in 2025, the highest since 1991, with 93-95% of cases involving unvaccinated individuals; outbreaks are primarily among children, especially in unvaccinated populations.
- Public health officials, including
