CDC Official Downplays Loss of Measles Elimination Status
The principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, that he would not consider the potential loss of the united States’ measles elimination status a major setback, citing international travel and parental choice.
Measles Transmission and Elimination Status
Measles transmission in the U.S. has reached levels not seen in decades, according to Stat News. A country doesn’t lose its measles elimination status simply due to imported cases. elimination status is lost when a country fails to halt ongoing virus transmission for a year or more after an introduction.
CDC’s Viewpoint on Outbreaks
Ralph Abraham, a physician and former Louisiana surgeon general who began his role at the CDC earlier in January 2026, acknowledged that outbreaks are occurring in communities where parents have opted not to vaccinate their children. He framed this decision as a matter of “personal freedom.”
“You no, the president, the [health] secretary, we talk all the time about religious freedom, health freedom, personal freedom, and I think we have to respect those communities that choose to go somewhat of a different route,” Abraham said during a press conference.
Abraham emphasized the CDC’s commitment to supporting these communities in minimizing the impact of outbreaks, despite acknowledging ongoing transmission.
