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US sees highest number of measles cases in 35 years
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- The US has reported 2,318 confirmed measles cases in 2026, marking a 35-year high and surpassing last year's total of 2,289 cases.
- Increased vaccine hesitancy has led to lower immunization rates, contributing to rising measles outbreaks across several states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
- The US faces the possibility of losing its measles elimination status due to continuous virus transmission, a status Canada lost last year.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, has been criticized for mixed messaging and policy changes that experts say have hindered outbreak control efforts.
- Despite proven effectiveness of the MMR vaccine, vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity, increasing the risk of further spread and complications from measles.
