The US is setting the stage for a long-term measles resurgence due to the Trump administration’s recent actions, experts warn. The administration’s decision to dismantle international public health safeguards, cut funding from local health departments, and legitimize health misinformation has made it increasingly likely for large multistate outbreaks to occur.
According to Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “We have really opened the door for this virus to come back.” The US must first import measles into the country, which is now more likely due to the weakened global health system. A large, unvaccinated population is also necessary for an outbreak to occur.
The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization and cut funding for Gavi, a program that helps purchase vaccines in developing countries, has disrupted efforts to control the spread of measles internationally. This will likely cause a surge in measles cases overseas, increasing the likelihood that a US traveler will bring the virus back into the country.
The current outbreak in West Texas has already spread to neighboring states and killed two people. Experts predict that this is just the beginning, with larger outbreaks becoming more frequent and disrupting society’s most vulnerable populations, such as babies too young to be vaccinated and immunocompromised individuals.
Measles was officially eliminated in the US in 2000, but the current outbreak makes it likely that the country will lose its status again. Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, said, “A fire is burning, and we are shutting down all the fire departments.” The weakened global health system has made it easier for measles to spread, and experts warn that the US is not prepared for a long-term resurgence.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/health/measles-outbreaks-texas-kennedy.html