This caught my glances through dailies around the world. The following is reported in The Washington Post on 8 July 2025. I just felt it’s a regression for an advanced country which had been declared to have eradicate the disease in 2000 to experience this.
I have no credibility to judge but I felt this is an ‘own goal’ by a government when they have a known vaccine sceptic as their Health and Human Services Secretary, an equivalent to Minister of Health where we are in.
With assistance from co-pilot;
US Measles Outbreak in the U.S.
- The U.S. has recorded 1,277 measles cases across 38 states, the highest annual count since 1992 (which was more than 2,100).
- This year in 2025, 3 deaths have been recorded. The same amount was recorded between 2001 to 2024.
- 92% of those infected were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
- Measles has spread rapidly, especially in West Texas’ Mennonite communities and areas with low MMR vaccination coverage.
- Public confidence in vaccines has declined post-pandemic, with growing influence of anti-vaccine groups and political polarization.
- The CDC and local health agencies face budget cuts, impairing response capabilities despite rising cases.
Public Health Implications
- The outbreak threatens the U.S.’s measles elimination status first achieved in 2000.
- Experts warn measles is a “harbinger” of potential resurgence of other diseases due to falling vaccination rates.
- The cost of outbreaks is enormous; e.g., NYC’s 2019 measles response cost $8.4 million.
Leave a Reply