US measles cases surpass 5,400 as death toll hits ten, elimination status under review
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 5,400 measles infections across 45 states and confirmed ten deaths, including recent fatalities in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, according to ABC News. Earlier this week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened an expert panel to review evidence of continuous measles transmission since January 2025 and determine whether the United States has lost its elimination status, as reported by ABC News.
The Guardian noted that the surge could lead to loss of the measles-free designation. CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz told Reuters that the agency would keep its outbreak response unchanged even if the elimination status were revoked, according to CNN. Your Local Epidemiologist added that CDC data showed rising influenza-like illness and a lack of fall vaccination reporting.
