PAHO to Vote on U.S. Measles Elimination as Texas Outbreak Hits 762 Cases
Updated (2 articles)
PAHO Schedules April 13 Review of U.S. Elimination Status The Pan American Health Organization will convene on April 13 to decide whether the United States still meets the measles‑elimination criteria, which require no continuous transmission chain lasting 12 months; the meeting will also assess Mexico’s status in parallel, and experts describe the outcome as largely symbolic despite ongoing cases [1][2].
Texas Gaines County Outbreak Surpasses 760 Cases The rural West Texas outbreak centered in Gaines County has officially infected 762 people and caused two child deaths, with the first known case developing a rash on Jan. 20, 2025; genetic testing links the same strain to cases in multiple U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, raising cross‑border concerns [1][2].
Nationwide Measles Cases Reach Over Two Thousand Across 44 states, measles cases have climbed to 2,144, the highest national tally since 1991, reflecting persistent gaps in vaccination uptake and the challenge of tracking multiple concurrent outbreaks [1][2].
Vaccination Coverage Remains Below Herd Immunity Threshold The national two‑dose measles vaccination rate sits at roughly 92.5 %, short of the 95 % level needed for herd immunity; coverage varies widely, with lower rates in communities that obtain waivers, face access barriers, or are exposed to misinformation [1][2].
Data Gaps and Funding Shortfalls Hamper Outbreak Tracking Public‑health officials cite barriers to care, distrust of government, and reduced funding for contact‑tracing as major obstacles to accurately counting cases and directing resources, complicating efforts to contain the spread [1].
Sources
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1.
WBNS:US near loss of measles elimination status as PAHO review looms: Details PAHO’s April meeting, the 762‑case Texas outbreak, data‑gap challenges, shrinking tracing funds, sub‑herd‑immunity vaccination rates, and cross‑border strain concerns .
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2.
AP:PAHO to decide whether the U.S. has lost measles elimination status on April 13: Highlights the symbolic nature of the review, the same Texas outbreak figures, nationwide case surge to 2,144, expert commentary on the designation’s relevance, and the linked Mexico status assessment .
Timeline
Jan 20, 2025 – A child in Gaines County, Texas, develops a measles rash, marking the index case of a later large outbreak that spreads across the state and into neighboring regions [1].
2025 – Genetic testing confirms that the same measles strain circulates in multiple U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, prompting cross‑border transmission concerns for regional health authorities [2].
2025‑2026 – The national measles vaccination rate stalls at 92.5 percent, below the 95 percent herd‑immunity threshold, as waivers, access barriers and misinformation erode routine immunization coverage [1][2].
Early 2026 – The Gaines County outbreak swells to 762 confirmed cases and two child deaths, while many suspected cases remain unverified because of data gaps and public distrust [1][2].
Early 2026 – U.S. measles cases rise to 2,144 across 44 states, the highest annual total since 1991, underscoring the failure of vaccination programs to contain spread [1].
Early 2026 – Shrinking contact‑tracing budgets and reduced federal funding hamper outbreak response, raising the cost and difficulty of tracking cases [2].
Early 2026 – Experts warn that the measles‑elimination label is “largely semantic” and does not capture ongoing transmission, urging clearer messaging and sustained vaccination efforts [1].
Apr 13, 2026 – PAHO convenes a meeting to decide whether the United States has lost its measles‑elimination status and to review Mexico’s measles‑free designation, a largely symbolic decision that could shape future regional health policy [1][2].