US measles epidemic.

[dann]

Delaware declares measles outbreak (CIDRAP, July 23, 2026)
Delaware now has four measles cases after going more than a decade without a single detection, and the state has officially declared an outbreak. It is not known at this time if the cases are connected to an unvaccinated Kent County man, the state’s initial measles case reported earlier this week.

 

[catsmate]

The US has seen 2,318 confirmed cases of measles in 2026 and is likely lose its status of having eliminated measles.
USAia has recorded more measles cases in the past 18 months than over the preceding 25 years.

 

[dann]

Yes, it has even been noticed in Europe, at this point:

USA står midt i landets største mæslingeudbrud i 35 år (EkstraBladet.dk, July 25, 2026)
Der er i år blevet registreret 2318 tilfælde af mæslinger i USA, hvor sygdommen blev erklæret udryddet i 2000

 

[dann]

CIDRAP Op-Ed: Call it what it is—the US has lost its hold on measles elimination (July 24, 2026)
Clearly, the data point to continuous spread
The timeline makes this hard to wave away. The massive outbreak in West Texas began on January 20, 2025, which puts the country well past the one-year mark. Seven months later when that outbreak, which resulted in 762 cases, was declared over, measles cases did not stop so much as the outbreaks relocated to other parts of the state and country.
The strongest evidence that this is continuous spread, rather than reintroduction, comes from the virus itself. In a recent analysis of more than 1,800 whole-genome sequences, ProPublica traced a distinctive set of mutations from the earliest Texas cases through the Utah outbreak, which began in June 2025, and into at least four other states.

 

[Norman Alexander]

The US has seen 2,318 confirmed cases of measles in 2026 and is likely lose its status of having eliminated measles.
USAia has recorded more measles cases in the past 18 months than over the preceding 25 years.

Second paragraph changes "most likely lose" to "has lost".

 

[dann]

ProPublica on bsky, July 25, 2026
Our analysis shows that the measles virus seen in Utah as recently as May is very closely related to one that circulated in Texas a year ago.Given our findings, one expert said it’s going to be difficult for the U.S. to prove measles isn’t endemic: propub.li/4vKYjs3

 

[dann]

Expert warns measles may be first of many illnesses to surge (CNN on YouTube, July 24, 2026 – 1:27 min.)
As measles cases rise, Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine explains what's driving the increase, the risks associated with it and why other childhood diseases could be next.

 

[dann]

'Canary in the coal mine': Doctor gives stark warning on what rise in measles cases means (MS NOW on YouTube, July 27, 2026 – 8 min.)
Measles cases are on the rise as vaccination rates continue to decline. Now, the U.S. is in jeopardy of losing its "measles-free" status. Former Director for NCIRD at CDC Dr. Demetre Daskalakis shares his expertise on the matter and Senior National Correspondent for The Bulwark Jonathan Cohn joins Jonathan Lemire to share the role that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has played in this outbreak.

They mention what a bout of the measles does to the immune system, which has more or less been forgotten whenever the current epidemic is mentioned.

 

[dann]

A YouTube timeline:

Measles on the rise in U.S. (CNN, May 30, 2014)
The number of measles cases has risen to 288, the highest since 2000 when the disease was eliminated in the U.S.

Measles HRG:Fauci–Vaccine vs Disease (CNN, April 1, 2016)
Dr. Fauci weighs risk vs benefit to vaccination.

Measles cases spike in US (CNN, April 26, 2016)
The CDC announced Measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 20-year high.

CNN: Measles Cases in U.S. Second Highest Since 2000 (WIUTV, April 3, 2019)
The disease once claimed up to 500 lives in the United States each year, but since a vaccine was introduced in 1963, deaths from measles in the U.S. have plummeted. But it's only April, and almost 400 measles cases have been confirmed.

Shot in the Arm Clip (2023) - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Samoa Measles Outbreak (ComingSoon.net, Aug 30, 2023)
In the spring of 2019, before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Kennedy began investigating a global measles epidemic and filming with top public health officials–including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, MD; Karen Ernst; Dr. Paul A. Offit, MD; Dr. Peter J. Hotez, MD; Blima Marcus, DNP –as well as rare verite and interviews with anti-vaccine activists - like Robert Kennedy, Jr. (charting his part in Samoa's tragic measles outbreak of 2019 and as he continues to garner GOP funding for a Democrat presidential bid today), Andrew Wakefield, and Del Bigtree - who were persuading parents by the millions to refuse vaccines for their children.

"He Will Make America Sick": Trump Picks Vaccine Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Head HHS (Democracy Now!, Nov 15, 2024)
Public health officials are decrying President-elect Donald Trump for selecting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Samoa's Health Chief Says RFK Jr. Spread Anti-Vax Misinformation Before Deadly Measles Outbreak (Democracy Now!, Jan 31, 2025)
During the second day of confirmation hearing for Trump's secretary of health and human services, nominee Robert F. Kennedy was questioned about his role in a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019.

Measles is Back. How Worried Should We Be? (CNN, Feb 28, 2025)
We haven’t talked much about measles since it was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000.

Measles cases surge to record high since disease was declared eliminated in US (CNN, July 16, 2025)
Measles have surged to a record high, with more cases reported this year than any year since the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000.

Measles outbreaks, MAHA and 2025's top health stories (CNN, Dec 29, 2025)
CNN's Sanjay Gupta counts down the top ten health moments of the year.

CNN ANCHOR LEFT SPEECHLESS as Dr. Oz Tells Insane Lies for RFK About Measles Vaccines!!! (Jesse Dollemore, Feb 9, 2026)
Jesse talks about an exchange between CNN's Dana Bash and Dr Oz, during which Mehmet Oz lies about RFK's position on the Measles vaccine (MMR).

Measles cases hit 35-year high in 2026 (NBC News, July 25, 2026)
The Center for Disease Control is reporting a new 35-year high in the number of measles cases as new outbreaks pop up in multiple states.

RFK Jr. Explodes On Live CNN As Measles Surge Debate Turns Into Fiery Showdown With Dana Bash (ETimesAug 2, 2026)
A live CNN interview erupted into a shouting match when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with anchor Dana Bash over measles, vaccines, and COVID-19. The explosive exchange aired on State of the Union as the United States faces a major measles surge, with cases reportedly reaching their highest level in decades.

 

[dann]

They don't call us a "red state" for nothing.

CDC adds almost 100 new cases to expanding US measles outbreak (CIDRAP, Aug 7, 2026)
94 new measles infections—most of them in Pennsylvania—bringing the US total for the year to 2,465, the agency said in its weekly update.
The numbers likely provide additional data to move the United States toward losing its measles elimination status this year. The nation gained that distinction in 2000, but has now logged consecutive years of more than 2,200 measles cases (2,289 for all of last year). This year’s total is the highest since 1991.
Elimination-status review under way this month
“One of the most worrisome is the ongoing outbreak in Utah, which apparently has gone on for more than 12 months, the main criterion for loss of elimination.”

New Mexico's 2025 measles outbreak cost $5.4 million (CIDRAP, Aug 4, 2026)
The total economic cost of New Mexico's 2025 measles outbreak was $5.4 million, according to an analysis published yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. That comes out to $53,522 per person infected with the airborne virus that causes the disease.
New Mexico's outbreak, which occurred from February through September 2025, resulted in 100 confirmed cases of measles, including seven hospitalizations and one death. Of those infected, 53% were aged 18 years or older and 85% were unvaccinated.

But that's peanuts and nothing to worry about. It would take three times $5.4 million to renovate a reflecting pool.

 

[dann]

The Rise of the Measles-Industrial Complex (Paul Krugman on Substack, Aug 12, 2026)
Why MAGA wants children to get sick and die

With several graphs of the attitudes to vaccines of Democrats and Republicans. They used to be very similar but they diverged after 2015 – dramatically so when the pandemic began.
I found it on X.

 

[dann]

You should take a look at this one, ahhell!
Wakefield may not have started it, but look what happened when the GOP embraced him and his ideas!

To be fair, he didn't start it, anti-vax has been a thing as long as there have been vaccinations. Mostly all the same rhetoric even. Wakefield just gave it some steriods. Somewhat ironically in that he did the thing a lot of anti-vaxers claim big pharma does by faking the whole autism link in order to sell his on vaccines.

 

[dann]

Doctors say to ignore Trump as he cites hearsay to upend vaccines amid historic measles outbreak (Advocate, Aug 11, 2026)
The order drew immediate condemnation from pediatricians, infectious disease specialists and other physicians, who said the changes lack scientific justification and could make vaccination more difficult as the United States experiences its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years.

Doctors Urge Americans To IGNORE Trump (Farron Balanced on YouTube, Aug 16, 2026) – 6 min.
Donald Trump ordered sweeping changes to childhood vaccination recommendations while making unsupported claims that the combined MMR vaccine could be “quite lethal” or “explosive,” admitting when pressed for evidence that his position was based largely on what he had heard from other people.

 

[Norman Alexander]

Looked at objectively, what on Earth does anyone expect the geriatric, decrepit, deranged medical disaster named Donald Trump to know about science, medicine and health? He's the complete advertisement for total medical ignorance.

 

[Trebuchet]

Looked at objectively, what on Earth does anyone expect the geriatric, decrepit, deranged medical disaster named Donald Trump to know about science, medicine and health? He's the complete advertisement for total medical ignorance.

The problem isn't that he doesn't know, it's that he doesn't care. And listens to idiots instead of experts.

 

[dann]

Looked at objectively, what on Earth does anyone expect the geriatric, decrepit, deranged medical disaster named Donald Trump to know about science, medicine and health? He's the complete advertisement for total medical ignorance.

FYFY.
He doesn't even know how to hire 'the best people' to do fairly simple renovation jobs, which was supposed to be his area of expertise. The only thing he's good at is getting rich by screwing people over, and I'm not even sure that he has an actual understanding of why it works. It seems to come natural to him, which is why he assumes that somebody must be doing something unconscionable to spite him when he doesn't succeed anymore because that's not how the universe is supposed to work.
That's how dumb he is.

 

[dann]

The threat of more, expanded measles outbreaks looms with start of school (CIDRAP, Aug 17, 2026)
post-COVID-19, dropping vaccination rates and conflicting federal messaging have created an opening for measles, widely considered the most contagious infectious disease known to humans.

US kindergarten vaccine exemptions jumped last school year, CDC reports (CIDRAP, Aug 18, 2026)
More kindergarten students (4.2%) were exempted from at least one vaccination during the 2025-26 school year than in the previous year (3.6%), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday.
The increase in vaccine exemptions could mean more infectious disease outbreaks.

Although it’s uncommon, vaccinated people can spread measles, study finds (CIDRAP, Aug 17, 2026)
In some cases, vaccinated people can transmit measles, finds a review and meta-analysis of 33 reports published late last week in Expert Review of Vaccines.

 

[Ziggurat]

The US has seen 2,318 confirmed cases of measles in 2026

Canada has had 1,116 cases in 2026. So it's almost 7 cases per million in the US, and almost 27 cases per million in Canada.

Is Trump to blame for Canada's measles outbreaks?

 

[Planigale]

FYFY.
He doesn't even know how to hire 'the best people' to do fairly simple renovation jobs, which was supposed to be his area of expertise. The only thing he's good at is getting rich by screwing people over, and I'm not even sure that he has an actual understanding of why it works. It seems to come natural to him, which is why he assumes that somebody must be doing something unconscionable to spite him when he doesn't succeed anymore because that's not how the universe is supposed to work.
That's how dumb he is.

I remember a lecture on the basis of intelligence where the lecturer said a mouse is very good at being a mouse, that is intelligent for a mouse. Trump is very good at being a Trump. He has become POTUS twice , the most powerful person in the world. He has made $billions as a result.

That is not dumb.

 

[Planigale]

Canada has had 1,116 cases in 2026. So it's almost 7 cases per million in the US, and almost 27 cases per million in Canada.

Is Trump to blame for Canada's measles outbreaks?

Canada is doing worse than the US, but for the same reasons.