US at risk of losing measles-free status amid severe outbreak

A panel of independent experts is evaluating epidemiological evidence to determine if the United States has lost its measles elimination status. This comes during a major public health challenge featuring more than 5,400 cases nationwide and active outbreaks across nearly every state. Health officials note that decreased vaccination percentages have allowed the highly infectious disease to gain a foothold. The outbreak has led to hospitalizations, deaths, and increased demands for citizens to verify their vaccination history to avoid quarantines.