As measles cases soar, U.S. could lose its measles-free status
Measle outbreak might get worse as winter approaches
America is on track to lose its measles-free nation status as a surge of infections of the virus continues unabated, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare this week the first statewide health emergency in the U.S. over the potentially deadly disease.
“We are in very real danger of losing our status as having eliminated that disease and it means we failed as a nation. We’ve failed because it’s totally preventable,” said Neil Manair, a professor of public health practice at Northeastern University’s Bouve College of Health Sciences.
Measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world, health experts say. It can hang in the air and survive on surfaces for hours. One simple sneeze at a busy airport could infect scores of people, Maniar said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC has reported almost 3,900 cases across the U.S. as of October 3, including two confirmed deaths. The numbers have spiked this year from 2,289 confirmed cases in 2025, when there were three known deaths.
In 2000, the Pan American Health Organization, or PAHO, granted measles-free status to the U.S., a designation acknowledged by the CDC. At the time, there were only 59 known cases nationwide and zero deaths, according to the U.S. agency.
PAHO, a United Nations agency that oversees international health cooperation in the Americas, is scheduled to meet next month to update the U.S. status, according to information published on its website.
The epicenter of the latest outbreak appears to be in Pennsylvania, where the state’s health department has reported 1004 measles cases and five deaths, according to the state’s website.
“Even one death is one too many,” Manair said.
Losing the measles-free status could prompt other countries to issue travel advisories, warning its citizens about the risks of traveling to the U.S. But Manair said the bigger issue is the bruise to America’s reputation together with the unnecessary risks to which residents are subjected.
New York, which neighbors Pennsylvania, has so far taken the most proactive action with its declaration of an emergency following the state’s reporting of 108 cases including seven in New York City.
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It’s the highest number recorded since 2019 when New York was the epicenter of a national outbreak that saw 1,282 cases nationally, according to the CDC.
Manair said that the current outbreaks appear to be centered in rural communities with many sequestered religious communities whose members aren’t prone to get vaccines But it is also spreading among the general population. He blamed the spread of misinformation about vaccinations harming children.
In a statement Monday, Hochul said that she declared the disaster emergency to strengthen the state’s response to the outbreak.
The measures include allowing nurses to order tests for the disease and allowing pharmacists to vaccinate very young children.
“No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease,” she said.
Manair warned that the situation could further deteriorate before it gets better.
“Don’t forget, winter is coming,” he said. “People are going to gather indoors more, travel through airports for the holidays. This outbreak is only going to get worse.”
