A surging measles outbreak in the United States has reached 664 cases in South Carolina alone, spreading to several other states including North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington. Experts warn that the U.S. is likely to lose its “measles-eliminated” status this year as the virus, which began spreading from a Texas cluster a year ago, continues to circulate year-round. Public health officials are concerned that declining vaccination rates and the promotion of misinformation by high-level officials could lead to a resurgence of other preventable diseases like polio and rubella. The majority of infections are occurring in unvaccinated children.
Date: January 21, 2026. Source: theguardian.com