Global health experts gathered in Washington on Monday to determine whether the United States has lost its official measles-free status, a public health benchmark held since 2000, RTE.ie reported.
A panel of outside experts will deliberate behind closed doors during annual meetings scheduled to run until November 13, reviewing epidemiological and laboratory evidence to decide if transmission has continued uninterrupted for 12 months.
The review creates a test for the Trump administration and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the top health official whose public skepticism regarding childhood immunizations has faced scrutiny from medical professionals. Public health researchers argue that administrative efforts to reduce childhood vaccinations have fueled the highest domestic infection rate in over three decades. Meanwhile, vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years.
Measles elimination means no strain spreads here nonstop for 12 months. The U. S. reached it in 2000. This week, a PAHO panel reviews it. Johns Hopkins counts 5,400 cases in 2026. Save and send to a parent: https://t.co/VHt4y9dbbM Read & subscribe for free:… pic.twitter.com/Uve67kOxeR
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released this week put confirmed U.S. cases at 5,182 across 45 states and Washington, D.C., representing the highest infection total since 1991, Al Jazeera reported. State health authorities have documented eight measles-associated deaths this year in Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin. The federal agency has formally confirmed four of those fatalities, while discussions continue regarding standardized mortality classifications between state and federal epidemiologists.
“It feels really concerning, as though everything is falling apart. The U.S. was held up as a model for a lot of vaccine programs,” said Helen Bedford, professor of children’s health at University College London, RTE.ie reported.
“But measles is definitely back in the United States,” Bedford added.
Pan American Health Organization Evaluates Outbreaks
The Pan American Health Organization requested status reports from all 35 member states in the Americas. Prof Brewer said that a prolonged outbreak spanning Arizona and Utah, which originated in June 2025, likely meets the criteria for continuous 12-month transmission.
My comments with @ABC @MaryKekatos about meetings this week to examine America’s measles elimination statushttps://t.co/QxvE5wulz0
Results from the closed-door deliberations are expected to be communicated to relevant authorities and made public early next week. Canada, Spain, and the UK recently lost their elimination status following World Health Organization reviews.
“Whether or not the U.S. loses its measles elimination status, we have a huge problem with measles,” Brewer told RTE.ie.
“. experts convening on Tuesday to decide whether the United States should lose its official designation as a nation that has eliminated measles.”@nytimes https://t.co/YAozbJwKeU pic.twitter.com/PtWLnjXHqQ
MMR Vaccination Rates Drop as Infections Rise
Federal data shows that MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarteners dropped to 92.4% during the 2025–26 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019–20, ABC News reported. The CDC recommends two doses of the combined MMR vaccine, noting that one dose provides 93% effectiveness and two doses yield 97% protection against the virus. Unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination histories account for approximately 96% of current infections.
Pennsylvania reported six deaths and 1,487 infections, marking the state’s highest impact in the current resurgence. The state health department records measles-associated deaths when a confirmed patient dies within 30 days of symptom onset without an unrelated cause. National and state death counts diverged after the CDC temporarily removed two Pennsylvania fatalities from its tally following inquiries from federal health leadership.
PAHO's commission is meeting this week on whether the US keeps its measles elimination status. The US had 85 cases the year it eliminated measles in 2000. This year it's past 5,100. It may come down to sequencing, whether outbreaks across states trace to one lineage for 12… pic.twitter.com/R9lZIsJTmX
“Measles is the great indicator of where the cracks are in our foundation,” said Demetre Daskalakis, a former top CDC official who resigned after Kennedy took office, RTE.ie reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Measles Review
What criteria does PAHO use to revoke measles-free status?
PAHO evaluates whether a country has experienced continuous, uninterrupted virus transmission for 12 months or longer, verified through epidemiological and laboratory data submitted by member states.
How many states have confirmed measles cases this year?
The CDC has confirmed infections across 45 states and Washington, D.C., totaling at least 5,182 cases according to newly updated data.
When will the PAHO decision be announced?
Panel recommendations will be finalized during closed-door deliberations in Washington concluding on November 13.
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