Measles, whooping cough spike amid low vaccination rates

Measles and whooping cough cases are surging in the U.S. due to low vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy, with 1,983 measles cases reported in 2026 across 12 states and Washington, D.C. Utah, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia have seen significant increases compared to 2025. Public health officials warn the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status as anti-vaccine rhetoric and funding cuts strain containment efforts.