The US will likely lose its measles elimination status when the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) meets in April. The “measles elimination” designation means that a country has gone at least 12 months without a continuous chain of disease spread. The US earned this public health victory after in 2000 by achieving high vaccination rates (greater than 95%) in most communities throughout the country. Over the last couple of decades, falling vaccination rates have led to a resurgence of the virus, fueling the historically bad year for measles in 2025.
The outbreaks show no sign of slowing down as the virus rages on in several states. South Carolina has the largest active outbreak – and the worst one since 2000. The state has confirmed 789 cases since October and the outbreak continues to intensify.
