US measles outbreaks surge as vaccination rates drop, threatening eliminated-disease status

Measles cases are rising across dozens of US states, with South Carolina reporting the highest concentration of infections as vaccination rates decline nationwide. The outbreak is significant enough that health officials warn the United States risks losing its official status as a measles-eliminated country, a designation held since 2000. This matters globally because measles is highly contagious and preventable through vaccination; resurgence in a wealthy nation signals concerning vaccine hesitancy trends that can ripple to other countries. The situation reflects deeper public health polarization in the US and underscores how disease elimination is fragile without sustained vaccination coverage.