Measles Outbreak Reaches 30 States, Urges Vaccination

The United States and Canada are currently experiencing their largest measles outbreaks in years, with health officials expressing growing alarm over the spread of this highly contagious but preventable disease. In the U.S., nearly 900 cases have been confirmed across 30 states, with Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico among those affected, and three deaths reported so far. Public health experts attribute the resurgence to falling vaccination rates, rising vaccine skepticism, and cuts to public health funding, despite the widespread availability and high efficacy of the MMR vaccine. Canadian authorities have also reported over 1,000 measles cases in southern provinces, although Nunavut has not seen any cases since 2017. Both U.S. and Canadian health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated, particularly before summer travel, to protect themselves and vulnerable populations from severe complications. Increased vaccination uptake has been observed in response to these outbreaks, but experts warn continued vigilance and community-wide immunization remain crucial to prevent further spread.