U.S. loses measles-free status after continued spread of the disease: report

The Pan American Health Organization has revoked the United States’ measles-elimination ​status after 26 years, because the country did not halt ‌continuous transmission of the highly contagious virus for ​more than a year, the Wall Street Journal ⁠reported on Friday (November 13, 2026). The international health body did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the report, ‌which cited people familiar with the matter.

Why we need to take measles seriously again Why we need to take measles seriously again Measles is far more than just a rash and a fever: the virus systematically targets and destroys the cells that form the backbone of the immune system’s memory. With vaccination rates falling globally and herd immunity weakening, the time has come for caution and preparation Why we need to take measles seriously again storyline 1 The reported decision by the Americas branch of the ‌World Health Organization comes as the U.S.

battles ‌the ⁠highest number of measles cases it has seen ⁠in more than three decades. Some 7,500 people in the U.S.