Measles: United States faces unprecedented epidemic since 1991

The vast majority of those infected were not vaccinated. Eight deaths, primarily among young children, have been reported in several U.S. states since August.

“It’s tragic and it could have been totally avoided,” laments Adam Ratner, an American pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases.

Despite the scale of this epidemic, it is struggling to elicit a strong reaction from the Trump administration, according to Dr. Ratner.

Although measles was officially eliminated in the United States in 2000 thanks to vaccination, it has experienced a significant resurgence starting in 2025, now threatening the country’s health status. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is due to reassess this status next week, and it is likely that the United States will lose its measles elimination certification.

The epidemic, which began in 2025, appears to be far from being controlled and cases are likely underestimated according to health professionals.

The administration of Donald Trump is being criticized for its lack of action in the face of this health crisis, particularly due to the reduction in budgets and staff of federal health agencies. It is also accused of fostering distrust of vaccines, leading to a decline in vaccination rates and the resurgence of measles.

Robert Kennedy Jr, Minister of Health of Donald Trump, has been criticized for relaying false information about the vaccine and minimizing the risks associated with measles, questioning the attribution of certain deaths. “He does not consider measles to be a major problem and refuses to believe that there are deaths due to this disease,” regrets Dr. Ratner.

Measles is characterized by fever, respiratory problems and skin rashes, which can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or brain inflammation.

Although vaccination against measles is mandatory, exemptions based on religious or philosophical grounds are possible in many regions of the country. These exemptions have increased since the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbated by misinformation and distrust of health authorities.

This resurgence of measles is a first sign of this decline in vaccination rates, warn American health professionals, who expect an increase in cases of whooping cough and chickenpox in the coming years. “And the burden of these diseases will fall on children, who are not the ones making these decisions,” warns Adam Ratner.