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—nearly matching 2025's total. States like Utah, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia have seen significant increases, while the CDC warns the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status. Public health departments face challenges containing outbreaks amid federal funding cuts and misinformation.