United States faces potential loss of measles elimination status

The United States could lose its measles elimination status this week as the nation experiences its worst outbreak of the virus in 35 years. The Guardian reported that the country is currently dealing with the largest outbreak since 1991, recording more than 5,400 cases nationally. [1]

The potential milestone threatens to cement the legacy of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr regarding his intervention in national vaccine policies. Dr Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and an attending physician at Children's Hospital, characterized the potential loss of status as a tremendous step backwards. [1]

If the United States loses its status, it will join Canada as well as several European and Asian nations where measles had been eliminated before returning, according to the Guardian. [1]