The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms about a global surge in measles cases, indicating potential outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases could follow. Dr. Kate O’Brien emphasized that measles outbreaks signal declining vaccination rates, which are also contributing to rising whooping cough cases in the U.S. In 2024, approximately 11 million measles infections occurred worldwide, with many countries, including the U.S., facing the threat of losing their measles elimination status due to ongoing outbreaks. As of 2025, there have been 1,798 confirmed measles cases in 42 U.S. states, resulting in three deaths.
