The United States is battling its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, with more than 5,400 cases reported nationwide and fears of more deaths mounting as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over its meddling in vaccine policies.
The alarming resurgence of measles has spread across much of the country, leaving health officials struggling to contain a disease that was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports.
According to Johns Hopkins University’s measles tracker, infections have climbed past 5,400 nationally, while the CDC has confirmed 5,182 cases in 2026 as of November 5, more than double the total recorded throughout 2025.
The escalating crisis has also claimed lives, including infants, as outbreaks continue spreading largely among unvaccinated people and children too young to be vaccinated.
Warning signs of measles
Measles is among the most contagious diseases known, spreading through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
According to the CDC, symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after infection, starting with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
Small white spots may then develop inside the mouth before a red rash spreads from the face down the body, sometimes accompanied by a fever exceeding 104°F.
The disease can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation and death, particularly among young children and people with weakened immune systems.
‘280,000 kindergartners at risk’
Vaccination remains the strongest protection. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are approximately 97% effective, but falling childhood vaccination rates have left growing numbers of Americans vulnerable.
CDC data show MMR coverage among kindergarteners dropped from 95.2% in 2019–2020 to 92.4% in 2025–2026 – below the 95% threshold generally needed to prevent outbreaks – “leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk.”
Trump’s vaccine policies under scrutiny
The escalating measles crisis has intensified scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose interference in vaccine policy has fueled concerns about the country’s ability to contain its worst outbreak in 35 years.
Kennedy has repeatedly questioned vaccine safety, despite extensive scientific evidence supporting the MMR vaccine, while health experts warn that weakening public confidence in immunization could worsen the outbreak.
The administration has also reduced staffing at the CDC, raising concerns about its ability to respond to infectious diseases, according to CBS News.
‘This will continue’
Meanwhile, Trump withdrew the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026, due to the “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Until we can rejoin the WHO and cooperate with other health agencies all over the world …This will continue,” Dr. David Margolius, the director of public health for Cleveland, Ohio, told the Guardian.
With measles continuing to spread and the country’s elimination status hanging in the balance, health officials are urging Americans to ensure their vaccinations are up to date before more lives are lost.
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