Rising measles outbreaks in the United States have raised concerns about whether the country is losing its status of having “eliminated” the disease, according to the Hill. As of March 7, 2024, 45 measles cases were reported across 17 states. Florida has reported 10 cases in 2 counties, prompting the Florida Surgeon General to recommend unvaccinated children should stay home for 3 weeks, aligning with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but it was not a mandate, according to the news report.
Status regained: If the measles outbreak continues for a year or more, the United States could lose its measles elimination status as defined by the World Health Organization. Even so, the United Kingdom and other countries have lost and regained their measles elimination status in recent years.