US Measles Elimination Status at Risk, CDC Warns
Washington D.C. – The United States is on track to lose its measles elimination status within the next two months, according to recent data and statements from the Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A surge in cases, reaching a 33-year high, is fueled by low vaccination rates and challenges in outbreak investigations.
David Sugerman, who leads the CDC measles response, stated that the current situation “continues, unfortunately uninterrupted, across multiple jurisdictions.” The CDC has tallied 1,723 measles cases across 42 states to date, with 87 percent linked to 45 outbreaks this year – a dramatic increase from the 16 outbreaks and 285 cases reported in all of 2023.
Low vaccination coverage is a key driver of the resurgence. In two identified hotspots – northwestern Mohave County, arizona, and the southwest health district of Utah - kindergarten vaccination rates for the 2024-2025 school year stand at 78.4 percent and 80.7 percent, respectively. These figures fall significantly short of the 95 percent threshold needed to maintain herd immunity and prevent widespread transmission.
Public health officials in Arizona and Utah are also facing obstacles in controlling the outbreaks. Approximately a quarter of reported cases are unable to identify their source of exposure, indicating missed cases and exposures. A recent inquiry in Salt Lake County, Utah, was hampered when a person suspected of having measles refused to cooperate with health officials, preventing confirmation of the probable case.
“It would not surprise me in the least if there’s continued spread across these next several months,” said David kimberlin, a member of the panel that analyzes measles data for the United States’ elimination status review, speaking to The New york Times.
The concerning trend suggests that despite ongoing vaccination efforts, their impact has been “limited,” according to local health officials. The CDC’s data underscores the growing threat to public health and the potential for a wider measles epidemic if vaccination rates do not improve.
