Measles Response Under Scrutiny

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently claimed that the U.S. is better at controlling measles outbreaks than any other country. His remarks were made during congressional hearings, where he was defending a proposed budget cut of over 12% for his department.

He stated, “The measles outbreak is not an American phenomenon. It is global. It’s happening all over the world. And we’ve done better under my leadership than any country in the world in limiting it.” However, this assertion raises questions.

The reality is that measles cases are rising worldwide. In fact, some countries, including Mexico and Canada, have experienced larger outbreaks in recent years than the U.S. Data shows that regions outside of the Americas have reported higher case numbers in 2025, with serious outbreaks occurring in places like Bangladesh, which has tragically resulted in the deaths of over 100 children.

Moreover, the situation in the U.S. is not improving. Vaccination rates have declined, leading to a significant increase in measles cases—the biggest surge since 1991. The current numbers for 2026 suggest an upward trend, potentially surpassing last year’s record-breaking cases. If this continues, the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status, which has been in place for 26 years.

Measles is exceptionally contagious, requiring a 95% vaccination rate to effectively prevent outbreaks. Unfortunately, vaccination rates have dropped from 95.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% by 2024-2025, according to CDC data. This decline has been troubling, particularly given the urgency for public health advocates to address the issue more robustly.

Experts have criticized Kennedy for not strongly promoting vaccinations. Instead of rallying for broader vaccine uptake, he’s often expressed hesitance around their safety and has even suggested alternative treatments that lack scientific backing.