Measles Transmission Surges in the U.S.
As measles outbreaks in the United States reach levels not seen in decades, the principal deputy director of the CDC stated that he doesn’t consider the country losing its measles elimination status a major concern.
“Not really,” Ralph Abraham, a physician and former Louisiana surgeon general, responded. He noted that this situation is somewhat expected due to the porous nature of borders and the realities of international travel.
It’s important to clarify that a country doesn’t lose its elimination status solely due to imported cases. Global circulation of the virus means these introductions are inevitable. Elimination status is only revoked if, after such an introduction, a country fails to halt ongoing transmission for a year or longer.
Abraham, who joined the CDC recently, mentioned that while the agency is actively assisting states in managing outbreaks, some infections are occurring in communities where parents opt out of vaccinating their children, which he described as their “personal freedom.”
“Honestly, we frequently discuss religious, health, and personal freedoms. We must respect communities that choose a different path,” Abraham expressed during a recent press briefing addressing the measles outbreaks.
He emphasized the CDC’s duty to support these communities in ways that could reduce the impacts of measles, particularly on children.
In addition to offering support to states, Abraham said he and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been advocating for measles vaccinations. He clearly stated their belief in the MMR vaccine as an effective prevention tool. The measles vaccine is part of a combination shot that also includes mumps and rubella protection.
However, some vaccine advocates argue that Kennedy hasn’t been assertive enough in promoting vaccination and has raised doubts about vaccine safety that lack scientific backing.
The press conference coincided with the one-year mark since the first identified measles case in a significant West Texas outbreak, which resulted in three fatalities in 2025. As of mid-January 2026, the CDC reported a total of 2,242 confirmed measles cases in 2025—the highest annual total since 1991.
Johns Hopkins University’s measles tracker has recorded 336 confirmed cases already in 2026, surpassing the total for many prior years in just a few weeks. Measles cases in the U.S. have been declining since the early ’90s, following the recommendation for two MMR vaccine doses instead of one.
It’s unclear if the current transmission is linked to the previous West Texas outbreak. A CDC scientist attending the briefing mentioned the agency is investigating viral genome sequences from various locations to ascertain whether the recent cases are due to ongoing spread or new infections from abroad. This scientist’s identity was withheld as a condition of participation in the event.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, indicating that the virus was no longer spreading within the country.
In Canada, a significant measles outbreak has recently led to the loss of its elimination status in November.
Recently, the Pan American Health Organization announced plans for a meeting on April 13 to evaluate whether the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles elimination status.
The CDC scientist reiterated the importance of conducting a comprehensive analysis using genetic data, stating, “We’re collaborating with academic and state labs for improved analysis. Routine whole genome sequencing hasn’t been necessary for measles before.”
