Measles — a virus the U.S. eliminated in 2000 — is making a serious comeback. Over 800 cases have been reported this year, with outbreaks spreading across the Southwest and into half of the country.
Canada and Mexico are also reporting surges, and the strain is crossing borders through tight-knit, unvaccinated communities. In early 2026, the U.S. might lose its measles elimination status if transmission doesn’t stop—a reversal 25 years in the making.
