USA, the number of deaths from measles rises to 10. There are over 5,400 cases

After 26 years, the United States loses its status as the country that has eradicated measles. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has revoked the US recognition obtained in 2000, when the disease was considered eliminated thanks to extensive vaccination campaigns. According to statistics from the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the latest deaths in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the last few hours, the number of deaths from measles has risen to 10, while the cases stand at 5,412, 230 more than a week ago.

Outbreaks caused by "low vaccination coverage"

Between 2000 and 2024, there was an average of 180 measles cases per year. The United States achieved measles-elimination status in 2000 after intensive free vaccination campaigns for millions of children. Until the arrival at the helm of the Ministry of Health of Robert F. Kennedy, who had cut the childhood vaccination program and research funds, openly supporting the existence, repeatedly denied by scientists, of a link between vaccines and autism. “Growing measles outbreaks in the United States, as well as unnecessary deaths, are all due to low vaccination coverage,” said Noel Brewer, chairman of an independent panel that filed data on the spread of the disease with Paho. “We allowed children to die,” he added.