Trending Now - Measles Outbreak Highlights Vaccine-preventable Disease Risks

WHO:

President Trump (administration)

Alonzo Plough, chief of science at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Dr. Ralph Abraham, former CDC principal deputy director (served beginning in December 2025, resigned in late February 2026)

Andrew G Nixon, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Scott Rivkees, former Florida surgeon general and current professor at Brown University’s school of public health

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the pandemic center at Brown University

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

WHAT:

Over 1,000 measles cases reported in the United States as of March 2026.

94% of measles cases occurred among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.

Three measles fatalities reported in the U.S.

Significant cuts to CDC funding streams proposed by the Trump administration, reducing wastewater surveillance funding from $125 million to $25 million annually.

CDC's communication about measles outbreaks has been minimal over the past year.

Local health department in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, ramped up vaccination clinics and posted billboards urging vaccination.

WHERE:

United States

Spartanburg County, South Carolina

WHEN:

CDC principal deputy director Ralph Abraham served beginning in December 2025 and resigned in late February 2026.

Measles outbreak first reported in 2025.

As of February 19, 2026, 26 mumps cases reported in Maryland.

WHY:

Experts claim the Trump administration has failed to take necessary steps to contain the spread of measles, leading to increased cases.

Cuts to CDC funding have compromised disease surveillance and public health communication.

HOW:

Experts suggest ramping up wastewater surveillance to estimate cases before clinical detection.

CDC has provided support to jurisdictions experiencing large outbreaks based on requests for additional support.

As of March 2026, the United States has reported over 1,000 cases of measles, with a staggering 94 percent occurring among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, and three fatalities have been linked to the outbreak. In response to the rising cases, local health officials in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, have intensified vaccination efforts, while the Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to CDC funding, which experts warn could hinder disease surveillance and public health communication. Meanwhile, the CDC's communication regarding measles outbreaks has been minimal over the past year, raising concerns among health experts about the administration's response to the ongoing crisis.