Health experts say measles deaths could become more common, marking a shift backwards. Measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. 25 years ago, thanks to what state officials describe as “a highly effective vaccination program in the U.S.” along with better measles control across North, Central and South America.

But the landscape for infectious diseases is changing. Vaccine skepticism and hesitancy are on the rise. So far this year, over 600 confirmed measles cases have been reported across multiple states. For comparison, there were 285 measles cases reported for all of 2024.

Outbreaks are on the rise as well. The vast majority of measles cases are outbreak-associated, which is defined as three or more related cases. 

The nation’s hub for addressing infectious diseases — the Department of Health and Human Services — has faced major cuts under the Trump administration. Experts say those cuts could affect the response to infectious diseases at the local, state and national level.

Dr. Teena Chopra joins The Metro to help us understand the situation. She’s the Assistant Dean at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine and specializes in infectious diseases.

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