A Disease Once Thought Defeated Is Spreading Across America

Measles, the world’s most infectious disease once declared eliminated, has made a comeback in the United States, ravaging states such as South Carolina, Florida, Utah, Virginia and Texas.

Multiple outbreaks occurred over the past year across the United States, costing millions in taxpayer money. South Carolina suffered through 997 cases and 21 hospitalizations, costing the state $2.1 million.

Virginia has reported 177 confirmed cases and eight hospitalizations, and the Texas Department of State Health Services has reported a total of 182 cases as of July 15.

The airborne virus is notorious for spreading rapidly. Nine out of 10 people who come into close contact with a person infected with measles can come down with the illness if they are not protected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. This makes the disease about five to six times more contagious than the common cold.

Three to four million Americans contracted the disease every year in the 1950s and 60s. However, Health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000 after 12 consecutive months without endemic transmission. 

However, resistance to taking vaccines has grown over the years. This is partly due to people refusing vaccines produced using cell lines originally derived from aborted fetal tissue obtained in the 1960s — such as the rubella vaccine in the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Additionally, studies have found that many parents remain concerned about a possible link between vaccines and autism.

As fewer people take the measles vaccine, more cases are popping up in the United States. Johns Hopkins University, which manages a tracker for measles cases, reports that the number of cases for 2026 has reached 2,295 — the highest number of cases since 1991

“This is not simply the return of a childhood rash illness,” epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad told the New York Post. “Measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization and death, especially in young children and medically vulnerable people.”

Measles can also create the condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. This is a fatal neurological condition that causes inflammation and scarring of the brain, the National Institutes of Health reports. This condition can take up to 20 years after a measles infection to develop. 

Prominent health officials in the Trump administration have called on all Americans to take the measles vaccine, especially after the 2025 measles outbreak.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told Americans to “take the vaccine, please.”

“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” Oz said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for].”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for being skeptical about the benefit of modern vaccines rolled out by Big Pharma, has urged parents to consult their doctors about vaccinating their children.

“The measles outbreak in Texas is a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health,” Kennedy said in an opinion piece last year. “By working together — parents, healthcare providers, community leaders, and government officials, we can prevent future outbreaks and protect the health of our nation.” 

“Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” Kennedy added.