U.S. health officials have asked the Pan American Health Organization to postpone an international review of the nation’s measles elimination status.
The delay comes as the United States confronts its most serious measles outbreaks in decades, raising the specter that the country could lose its measles-free designation for the first time since 2000.
The expert panel meeting, originally scheduled for April, has been rescheduled for November during PAHO’s regular annual session to allow U.S. health officials to gather adequate data and information about measles outbreaks, according to Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services.
“The additional time will allow for a thorough and transparent assessment of the 2025 measles outbreaks, including comprehensive genomic sequencing and advanced analysis,” Nixon told the Washington Examiner. “We remain committed to actively supporting current outbreak responses through laboratory testing, technical assistance, and close coordination with state and local partners.”
Nixon added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “appreciates PAHO’s agreement to maintain the regular verification cycle.”
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Measles elimination status is awarded to countries that avoid continuous person-to-person transmission of the virus for at least 12 months, according to the CDC. Persistent outbreaks could jeopardize the status, signaling that the endemic spread has resumed.
The outbreak situation in the U.S. has worsened in recent months.
According to CDC data, more than 1,100 confirmed measles cases have been reported so far in 2026, compared to more than 2,200 cases documented nationwide in 2025. Most cases are linked to outbreaks that began last year in at least two dozen states.
South Carolina remains a major hot spot, with hundreds of cases concentrated in the upstate region. State health officials say the vast majority of infected individuals are unvaccinated, and efforts to contain the spread through quarantine and vaccination campaigns are ongoing.
Public health authorities noted that declining vaccination rates have contributed to the resurgence. Measles is highly contagious, and communities need high coverage with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to prevent sustained outbreaks.
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The U.S. national vaccination rate for school-age children has fallen below the threshold epidemiologists say is necessary for herd immunity.
Health officials, including the CDC’s acting director, have urged Americans publicly to get vaccinated, emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine in preventing disease and transmission.
