Bold claim: Measles outbreaks are surging across the United States, and the country is at high risk of losing its elimination status for the disease. This outcome, experts warn, is closely tied to President Trump’s appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In South Carolina, authorities quarantined at least 254 people after confirming more than two dozen measles cases. This event marks the latest chapter in what many see as the worst year for measles in recent American history.
Among the hotspots is West Texas, where more than 700 confirmed cases have emerged since January, resulting in the deaths of two children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 47 measles outbreaks nationwide so far this year.
Fiona Havers, an adjunct associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine and a former infectious disease staffer at the CDC, describes the situation as a stark reminder of the damage caused by the anti-vaccine movement. Kennedy was previously a leading public figure in that movement when Trump appointed him to head HHS. Since taking office, Kennedy has sought to reshape the nation’s vaccine advisory framework and other government structures to reflect his views.
A country loses its measles-elimination status when there is at least 12 months of sustained transmission. This year, measles activity has also spiked in Canada and Mexico, with Canada officially losing its elimination status last month.
The United States had declared measles eliminated in 2000, but January 20 of next year will mark 12 consecutive months of uninterrupted transmission, and ongoing spread makes achieving elimination unlikely.
Havers calls the situation “extremely embarrassing” for the United States.
She notes several factors complicating outbreak control: decades of misinformation about measles vaccines championed by Kennedy and others in the anti-vaccine movement have lowered vaccination rates, making containment harder. She also points out that a different administration might have aimed for regular CDC updates, increased funding for state responses, and widespread public messaging about vaccination as the key control measure.
Kennedy has publicly acknowledged that the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles spread. This marked a notable shift for Kennedy, who has long questioned vaccine safety and efficacy and previously suggested the MMR vaccine could be linked to autism, though no causal link has been established.
In addition to vaccines, Kennedy has advocated for alternatives such as vitamin A supplementation, cod liver oil, and the steroid budesonide to treat measles. While these approaches may not be harmful, experts say they do not provide additional benefits for measles control.
Upon confirmation, Kennedy signaled a reorientation of HHS priorities away from infectious disease toward chronic illness.
Technically, losing elimination status means measles transmission has persisted for 12 months. Yet some experts argue the practical problem is clear enough without waiting for an official designation.
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, suggests the timing isn’t the critical issue: the country already faces a severe outbreak. He notes that within Canada, roughly 41 million people have experienced more than 5,000 measles cases this year. Extrapolating to the U.S. population underscores the potential scale and urgency for the next 12–18 months.
Canada’s response involved coordinating with the Pan American Health Organization to reverse the trend, and regaining elimination requires interrupting current transmission for 12 months. Osterholm argues the rise in measles activity would have occurred regardless of leadership, but he believes the current administration’s statements are exacerbating the situation.
Havers remains pessimistic about the new administration’s priority on regaining elimination. She contends the current leadership focuses more on vaccine risks than on the dangers posed by vaccine-preventable diseases, and she cautions that the first year of continuous transmission could reflect a deeper shift in policy.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon framed elimination status as a 12-month metric based on transmission data and expressed that Kennedy has been clear about vaccination as the most effective prevention method. He added that attempts to spin the issue are unfounded and encouraged individuals to consult with healthcare providers for personalized guidance.
If you’re curious, how should a health department balance vaccine outreach with addressing concerns about vaccine safety? What role should leadership play in communicating science during an outbreak, and how might policy choices influence vaccination rates and disease spread in the near future?
