US May Lose Measles Elimination Status as Outbreaks Spread to 45 States

May 2, 2026

The United States risks losing its measles elimination status, which public health experts declared in 2000, as outbreaks have now spread to 45 states. Boston Children's Hospital researchers published findings in The Lancet showing the US has already missed four of the seven CDC criteria for measles elimination status, with the remaining three indicators also at risk. The CDC established these seven indicators specifically to monitor whether the United States remained on track after elimination was declared. The widespread nature of current outbreaks across 45 states represents a significant reversal of the public health achievement from two decades ago.

Loss of Measles Elimination Status in the United States

▪Boston Children's Hospital researchers published findings about United States measles elimination status in The Lancet.
▪The remaining three CDC measles elimination criteria are at risk in the United States.
▪Public health experts declared measles eliminated in the United States in 2000.
▪Boston Children's Hospital researchers found that the United States has missed four of the seven CDC criteria for measles elimination status.

CDC's Seven Indicators for Measles Elimination

▪The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established the seven measles elimination indicators to ensure that the United States remained on track after measles was declared eliminated.
▪The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established seven indicators of measles elimination status.

Geographic Spread of Current Measles Outbreaks

▪Measles outbreaks have spread to 45 states in the United States.

Perspective of Boston Children's Hospital researchers

▪Boston Children's Hospital researchers used the CDC's seven measles elimination indicators as the framework for evaluating United States measles elimination status.
▪Boston Children's Hospital researchers determined that the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status.