A full year of measles spread now puts the U.S. on the brink of losing its elimination status, according to The Hill.
Health officials say Jan. 20 marked 12 months of continuous measles transmission, a key threshold used by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautioned it’s still reviewing data before making that call.
The U.S. recorded more than 2,200 measles cases and 49 outbreaks last year, including three deaths among unvaccinated people. Experts blame rising vaccine hesitancy and warn sustained spread signals deeper weaknesses in the public health system.
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