Why measles outbreak in Pennsylvania poses risks beyond US borders
The United States is experiencing its largest measles outbreak since 2000, with Pennsylvania being particularly affected. Health experts warn that the resurgence is due to a decline in vaccination rates and a collective loss of awareness regarding the severity of the disease.
Why it matters
The outbreak poses a significant public health threat that extends beyond US borders, highlighting the dangers of vaccine skepticism.
The United States is facing its largest outbreak of measles since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Horses pull a wagon past a Lancaster County farm in Christiana, Pennsylvania, the US on October 20, 2026 [Matt Rourke/AP] By Catherine Nouhan Published On 22 Oct 2026 22 Oct 2026 Decades after it was officially declared eliminated in the United States, measles has made a resurgence, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing the third death of the year from the virus.
Matt Ferrari, director of Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, said the US was so successful at wiping out measles that it had “the luxury to forget” it was a serious problem.
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