A surge in measles cases is threatening the United States’ elimination status, which it has held for more than 20 years.
The US has experienced 338 reported cases of measles between January 1, 2020 and March 28, 2024, according to the CDCTrusted Source. Nearly one-third of those cases (29%) occurred during the first quarter of 2024, representing a 17-fold increase over the average number of cases reported during the same time period between 2020-2023.
Measles is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system and causes a distinct rash. The disease is also highly contagious.