Measles Elimination Status Threatened

Twenty-five years after eliminating measles, the U.S. is on the verge of losing that status. Whether the country crosses that line this winter or narrowly avoids it, efforts will be needed to boost vaccination rates to prevent the spread of a disease with potential long-term effects. The U.S. eliminated measles in 2000, but as misinformation has spread, vaccination rates have declined, leading to an increase in measles cases. There have been 1,648 confirmed cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), though experts believe this is likely a significant undercount. Nevertheless, cases reached the highest level since 1992 last summer and continue to rise. An outbreak with continuous transmission of the same virus strain lasting 12 months or more within its territory puts a country at risk of losing its measles elimination status, as noted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), an independent group that acts as the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. Learn more inAAP News.