Pan American Health Organization Says U.S. Measles Elimination Status Revoked

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) concluded this week that measles has re-established regular transmission in the United States, ending the country's status as having eliminated the disease. The decision follows a series of outbreaks that have persisted beyond a year, a threshold used to define elimination.

Anne Schuchat, an epidemiologist and former deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the loss "a very sad moment" and noted that measles can cause severe complications, including high fever, missed work and school, and, in rare cases, progressive nerve disease and death.

Health officials estimate that more than 8,000 people have been infected in recent outbreaks, resulting in roughly $125 million in medical costs, public-health response expenses, and productivity losses, and over 830 hospitalizations. Thirteen measles-related deaths have been reported, including infants in New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

PAHO based its assessment on analyses from the CDC and an independent panel of measles experts. The agency had planned a public announcement for Nov. 17.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson attributed the resurgence to vaccination gaps that have widened since the COVID-19 pandemic, noting a steady decline in childhood vaccination rates.

Researchers and public-health leaders highlighted that two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine prevent about 97 % of infections, and that high community vaccination coverage (around 95 %) historically limited the spread of the virus.

The loss of elimination status means the United States must bring all ongoing outbreaks under control and ensure future outbreaks subside within a year before the status can be restored, according to microbiologist Paul Rota, a former CDC official.