The United States has lost its official measles-elimination status for the first time in 26 years. The decision was made by the Pan American Health Organization, the Americas branch of the World Health Organization, after the disease continued to transmit throughout the past year.
The CDC has confirmed 5,412 measles cases so far in 2026, marking the highest number of cases the country has seen since 1991. This total is more than double the total recorded in 2025.
These figures reflect some of the worst outbreaks the United States has faced in more than three decades. The surge in cases and continued transmission have resulted in the loss of the country's long-standing status as having eradicated the disease.