The United States has lost its status as a country where measles has been eradicated": thousands of people suffered due to a widespread outbreak of the disease.
"The Pan American Health Organization revoked the eradication status of measles in the US, which it achieved in 2000 after a massive vaccination campaign. The decision was expected amid a sharp increase in incidence - in the past two years, measles outbreaks in the US have reached highs in decades, and in 2026 the CDC recorded no more than 5 cases since 400 cases before. In November alone, Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin reported 5 measles deaths in unrelated outbreaks.
To regain status, the United States must halt the further spread of the virus for at least 12 months, which could require years of work and political will. Experts attribute the outbreaks to declining vaccination coverage - at least 95% of the population must be vaccinated to contain measles, while among American gardeners the rate has dropped to 92.4%.