Vaccine Hesitancy Crisis
CDC Warns Measles and Whooping Cough Cases Spike Amid Low Vaccination Rates and Misinformation
The U.S. has recorded 1,983 measles cases so far in 2026 — nearly doubling the pace of all of 2025 — as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation drive the worst resurgence in decades, according to CDC. Whooping cough cases remain elevated well above pre-pandemic norms. Experts say the U.S. will almost certainly lose its measles-free status, a designation it has held since 2000.
Twelve states and Washington, D.C. already have more measles cases than they recorded for the entire year in 2025, Stateline reported. South Carolina and Utah have been hit hardest. A pediatric disease expert at the University of Utah called current outbreaks "wildfires" spreading through unvaccinated communities.
South Carolina Ends Outbreak, Utah Still Burning
South Carolina declared an end to its Spartanburg County measles outbreak on April 28, 2026, after 42 days with no new cases, according to PBS. The outbreak produced 997 confirmed cases — the largest in the U.S. in 35 years. The state spent $2.1 million managing the response, according to Southeast Politics.
Utah's outbreak is still growing. It began in the Short Creek area on the Utah-Arizona border and has reached 484 cases in 2026 alone. Dr. Andrew Pavia of the University of Utah says the U.S. will "certainly lose" its measles elimination status. That status requires no continuous spread for 12 months. National MMR vaccination rates among kindergartners have slipped to about 92%, with Idaho as low as 78.5%, according to CIDRAP.
Federal Vaccine Policy Cuts Fueled the Crisis
In January 2026, acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill signed a memo cutting the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. Vaccines for rotavirus, flu, and hepatitis A and B were moved to "risk-based" — meaning only some kids are advised to get them. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the new schedule "protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."
Critics say the policy backfired. A coalition of 15 states led by California and Minnesota sued HHS in February 2026 to block the new schedule, calling it "politically motivated" and "unlawful," according to The BMJ. Experts warn the changes create confusion for parents and widen gaps in herd immunity. Measles is six times more contagious than COVID-19, leaving little room for error. On top of that, $11 billion in cuts to local public health departments have left state agencies "stretched very, very thin," Dr. Pavia said, according to Stateline.
U.S. Measles-Free Status Faces November Deadline
The Pan American Health Organization was set to review U.S. measles elimination status in April 2026. U.S. officials asked to push that meeting to November 2026. Many public health experts see the delay as an attempt to avoid a damaging ruling before a politically sensitive period. Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo of Brown University said that back-to-back outbreaks "leave no doubt that domestic transmission has been re-established," according to The BMJ.
Losing elimination status would carry real consequences. Other countries could add travel warnings for Americans. International vaccination requirements for U.S. visitors could tighten. Infants under 12 months — too young for the MMR vaccine — are especially at risk. In 2026, about 21% of measles cases have involved children under age 5, according to Healthline. Each measles case costs an estimated $14,000 to $50,000 in lost productivity and public health management.
Trump Builds Kenya Ebola Facility Amid Legal Fight
On May 27, 2026, the Trump administration confirmed plans to build a 50-bed Ebola quarantine center at Kenya's Laikipia airbase for Americans exposed to the virus in central Africa, according to CBS News. The administration said the facility avoids the dangers of flying sick patients long distances back to the U.S.
A Kenyan High Court moved fast. On May 29, Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued a temporary order blocking the facility, citing "profound clinical, ethical, and legal concerns," according to The Guardian. The Katiba Institute argued the plan treats Kenya as a "dumping ground" for dangerous pathogens. A final ruling is expected by mid-June 2026. The controversy adds to a broader picture of U.S. public health credibility under strain both at home and abroad.
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