The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has stripped the United States of its status as a country where endemic measles transmission has been eliminated, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
According to the paper, more than 5,400 cases of measles were reported in the US in 2026, which is the highest number in several decades. In November alone, five deaths were recorded in Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin as a result of unrelated outbreaks of the disease.
The US achieved measles-free status in 2000 thanks to large-scale vaccination campaigns. To bring it back, the US must ensure there is no ongoing transmission of the virus for at least 12 months. According to the paper, it could take years.