US risks losing measles elimination status as outbreak spreads across states, AP reports
A long-running chain of measles transmission that began in West Texas is pushing the U.S. toward a possible loss of its elimination designation, a milestone that would signal sustained spread and gaps in vaccination coverage.
The United States is in danger of losing its measles elimination status as a persistent outbreak continues to spread across multiple states, according to an Associated Press report published January 21, 2026.
The AP report explains that elimination status can be reconsidered if uninterrupted transmission continues for at least 12 months. The current chain began in West Texas in January 2025 and has extended into numerous states.
Health officials and researchers cited declining vaccination rates and pockets of under-immunization as key drivers, alongside practical barriers to access and the downstream impacts of misinformation and distrust.
Public health experts warn that losing elimination status would not change the fact that measles is preventable, but it would underscore vulnerabilities in immunization coverage and outbreak response capacity.