The slew of outbreaks in 2024 has put the US at risk of losing its measles elimination status, an achievement it has maintained since 2000. Measles elimination status means that the virus does not persist continuously in a country. This year’s ongoing outbreaks across 18 states puts the U.S. uncomfortably close to losing its measles elimination status, which physicians say threatens the health of young children and immunocompromised people. The surge of measles infections follows an upward trend in cases over the last decade. In 2019 measles outbreaks in certain New York City neighborhoods highlighted the dangers of having pockets of unvaccinated communities. This year’s cases span a wide geographic area, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, and many other states. So far this year, 113 cases have been confirmed, surpassing the total infections from all of 2023.
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