Is the United States’ Measles Elimination Status At Risk?
As vaccine skepticism and misinformation escalates and the number of U.S. measles cases grows, KFF examines the United States’ measles elimination status, including what it means to eliminate measles, whether the current measles outbreak could threaten the country’s measles elimination status, and what losing that status might mean for measles control.
In the first half of 2025, the U.S. has had more measles cases, outbreaks, affected states, and deaths than in any year since 1992. As more parents choose not to vaccinate their children and with public health departments facing staffing and budget cuts, U.S. measles elimination status could be at risk.
