The U.S. officially eliminated measles in 2000, meaning that at that time, the country had gone over a year without continuous domestic spread of the disease. Travelers would occasionally bring measles into the country, sometimes sparking significant local outbreaks, but these didn't tip enough dominoes to lead to ongoing domestic transmission.
The decision follows a series of major measles outbreaks that kicked off in January 2025. Nearly 2,300 cases were reported nationwide in 2025, and so far in 2026, almost 5,412 confirmed cases have been confirmed, although both tallies are likely undercounts.
It takes work to keep an eliminated disease from resurging. The effort rests largely on keeping vaccination rates above a critical threshold — because the measles virus spreads so easily, at least 95% of the population needs immunity via either vaccination or past infection to prevent large outbreaks from occurring and fueling uncontrolled spread. National measles vaccination rates have been falling in recent years, with just 10 states reporting rates above the immunity threshold among kindergarteners for 2025-2026.
Measles infections can have serious consequences, including long-term disability and death. (Image credit: CDC/ Rebecca Martin, PhD)
The nation's first measles-related deaths this year were reported in Pennsylvania in August, and five more have followed, according to state health officials. (Some of these deaths have not been confirmed by the federal government.) A death reported in Wisconsin and another in New York have brought the current total to eight, per states' counts.
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The PAHO's meeting to reevaluate the United States' status was originally scheduled for April but was pushed to November.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
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