US Measles Cases Surge as CDC Downplays imminent loss of Elimination Status
After a year of escalating outbreaks, the United States is on the verge of losing its measles-free status, a reversal public health officials are attempting to deflect rather than address. More than 2,400 people have been sickened in the past twelve months, yet the newly appointed principal deputy director at the Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ralph Abraham, has expressed a disturbing lack of concern, attributing the rise in cases to “the cost of doing business” with international travel and “personal freedom” regarding vaccination.
The situation reached a critical point in January, with a significant outbreak in South Carolina already spreading across state lines. This resurgence comes after the US successfully eliminated measles in 2000 – a feat now threatened by what experts are calling a dangerous combination of complacency and political interference.
A History of Neglect and Disinformation
The current crisis is not simply a matter of unfortunate circumstance, but the result of a deliberate downplaying of the issue and the appointment of individuals actively hostile to established public health practices. Abraham, a long-time advocate for alternative treatments and “natural immunity,” has consistently questioned the efficacy and safety of vaccines. His appointment as a key leader within the CDC has been met with widespread criticism from medical professionals.
“When you hear somebody like Abraham say ‘the cost of doing business,’ how can you be more callous?” questioned a pediatrician and vaccine specialist during an online discussion hosted by Inside Medicine on January 20. The specialist further emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that “three people died of measles last year in this country. We eliminated this virus in the year 2000-eliminated it. Eliminated circulation of the most contagious human infection. That was something to be proud of.”
Domestic Spread, Not Just border Concerns
Despite Abraham’s attempt to frame the outbreaks as an inevitable result of international travel, data indicates that the vast majority of cases originate within the United States. According to CBS News, only approximately 10% of infections over the past year were linked to foreign sources. The remaining 90% were the result of domestic spread, debunking the claim that border policy is the primary driver of the resurgence.
This domestic spread is notably alarming given the proven effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. Abraham himself acknowledged that two doses of the vaccine offer the most effective protection, a statement many found jarring given his previous anti-vaccine advocacy. though, critics argue that this acknowledgement feels disingenuous, especially considering the actions being taken – or not taken – by the CDC under his leadership.
Obstructing Scientific Integrity
Instead of focusing on containment and vaccination efforts,the CDC is reportedly engaged in a questionable effort to manipulate data and downplay the severity of the situation. According to a former director of the CDC’s national immunization center, who resigned in August in protest of recent actions, the agency is “desperately trying to show that the outbreaks are from disparate strains to argue that it hasn’t been 12 months of continuous spread of a single strain to claim that we shouldn’t lose our elimination status.”
If genomic analyses confirm a continuous outbreak, the administration is predicted to cast doubt on the findings and minimize the importance of losing measles-free status. As Abraham reportedly told a Stat reporter, losing this status “does not mean that the measles would be widespread.”
This deliberate obfuscation has led to accusations of “criminal negligence” from public health experts. The focus appears to be on protecting political optics rather than safeguarding public health. The phrase “who cares” reportedly encapsulates the administration’s attitude toward a potential reversal of the country’s elimination status, as predicted by the former CDC director.
The return of measles to the United States is not inevitable, but the current leadership’s response suggests a willingness to accept it as a regrettable, yet unavoidable, consequence of “personal freedom” and political maneuvering. Welcome back, measles. I guess you’ll be staying with us a while.
