The United States recorded a significant increase in measles cases in 2025 and 2026, surpassing the total accumulated over the previous twenty years. The disease, known for its high transmissibility and symptoms such as red spots, high fever, cough, and conjunctivitis, has no direct treatment for the virus; vaccination is the only effective preventive measure.
After being declared eliminated in 2000, outbreaks have recently occurred again. The previous record was 2,289 infections in 2025, but a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on July 23 indicated that the US alone had already counted 2,318 cases this year. The sum of records from 2025 and 2026 exceeds the total number of cases reported between 2000 and 2024.
Due to these numbers, experts are planning a meeting in November to re-evaluate whether the country will lose its measles elimination status. One of the central causes for the progression of the disease is the reduction in American vaccination coverage. Vaccination began to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic and did not return to the necessary 95% to contain viral circulation. Of the 35 documented outbreaks in 2026, the vast majority, 93%, affected unvaccinated individuals or those without vaccination records.
It is important to note that even among those who received one dose, there is a 5% probability of contracting the disease, although with less severe symptoms. Measles poses a greater risk to babies before the vaccination age and to people with compromised immune systems. In Brazil, the first dose is generally recommended at 12 months of age, and extra doses may be available in high-risk areas.
Brazil obtained the measles elimination certificate in 2016 and maintained this status until 2017. However, the virus returned in 2018, resulting in the loss of certification, and during this period (2018 to 2022), more than 39 thousand cases were recorded. There was a sharp decrease after this interval, with the country reporting no cases in 2023 and only five in 2024. Thanks to this, Brazil recovered its elimination status in 2024, which has been maintained to date, with current cases being mostly isolated and linked to international travel.
In 2025, 38 cases were confirmed, 25 of which were associated with an outbreak in Tocantins, which began after the arrival of a family from Bolivia. The outbreaks observed in the US and other American nations reinforce the need to maintain high vaccination rates on the continent.
In Brazil, the vaccine used is the Triple Viral, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, and is provided free of charge by the SUS in two doses for people between 12 months and 29 years old. Adults aged 30 to 59 who are not properly immunized must also receive a dose. According to the Ministry of Health, the immunization rate with the first dose was 95.8% in 2024 and dropped to 92.9% in 2025.
Despite the situation in the US, the text clarifies that Brazil is not imminent to a new outbreak. Although cases may arise due to international travel, high vaccination coverage and rapid Brazilian epidemiological surveillance tend to prevent viral dissemination.
Measles complications are serious. On average, one in every thousand infected people develops acute encephalitis, a brain inflammation that can cause permanent sequelae. American data indicates that per thousand cases, one to three people die due to respiratory or neurological problems. Furthermore, rare and fatal diseases can appear years after infection, such as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which can manifest seven to eleven years after primary infection, being more common in children infected before the age of two. It is estimated that about 2 in every 10,000 cases lead to SSPE, and this rate can rise to 1 in every 609 in infants.
According to reports, cases of measles outbreaks have been registered in several US states. The highest concentration of cases is observed in West Texas, from where the virus began spreading to other regions.
Health officials warn that this highly contagious virus can cause serious complications. These complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, the need for hospitalization, and death.
Most identified cases are linked to local spread of the infection, not international travel.
Representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective method of preventing outbreaks. This helps protect vulnerable populations and maintain the country's measles elimination status.
There is another increase in the number of coronavirus infection cases across the country. In Andhra Pradesh in South India, four patients died in recent days, and the area of virus spread continues to expand. Cases of infection have also been found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Cases of COVID have also appeared in Bihar: an infected father and daughter were identified in the city of Bhagalpur and hospitalized in the intensive care unit.
The rise in morbidity and mortality has caused serious concern among medical specialists and has raised many questions among the public: can the coronavirus spread throughout the country again? Is the virus becoming more dangerous than before? Are booster doses necessary?
Professor Dr. Jugal Kishore, Director of the Internal Medicine Department at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, and public health expert and epidemiologist Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya provided detailed answers to these questions.
Dr. Jugal Kishore noted that the notion that the coronavirus has disappeared is incorrect. The virus has not been completely eradicated and is still present not only in India but also in many other countries around the world. The virus constantly mutates, leading to the emergence of new subvariants such as XFG (Stratus), NB.1.8.1, and Cicada (BA.3.2).
According to Dr. Kishore, the virus continuously changes its genes to evade the body's immune response. These changes and new variants cause infection. However, a positive aspect is that the current variants generally do not cause severe illnesses; most infected individuals experience only mild symptoms, similar to the flu, without respiratory problems or oxygen deficiency.
Dr. Chandrakant explained that during the monsoon season, many different viruses become active, leading to an increase in respiratory illnesses, including COVID cases. He emphasized that although there is an increase in morbidity with flu-like symptoms, there is no need to panic.
According to Dr. Kishore, most COVID cases in India are currently caused by the XFG and NB.1.8.1 variants. Although these variants are old, they can spread rapidly. Typically, their symptoms resemble the flu: fever, dry or regular cough, sore throat, body and muscle aches, headache. These signs may be similar to common viral flu or seasonal allergies, but immediate hospitalization is required in case of persistent fever and breathing difficulties.
Regarding the deaths registered in South India, Dr. Jugal Kishore clarified that in most cases, the primary cause of death is not the virus itself. He specified that patients who die often suffer from pre-existing serious conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, or cancer. Since COVID testing is conducted in hospitals as part of the protocol, and if the result is positive, the death is registered as COVID-related, even though the true cause of death may be related to another serious illness.
In response to the most important question about the possible spread of the virus across the country, Dr. Kishore replied that the probability of the coronavirus spreading across the country as widely as before is extremely low. This is because people still retain immunity against the virus, and most infected individuals experience only mild symptoms. People with pre-existing serious illnesses pose the greatest risk. Nevertheless, since the virus continues to mutate, caution is necessary. Dr. Chandrakant also believes that the probability of widespread COVID is low; even if cases increase, the symptoms will predominantly be flu-like.
Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya stated that booster doses are not currently required in India. However, COVID prevention remains important. To achieve this, it is recommended to avoid unnecessary visits to crowded places, not take antibiotics without consulting a doctor, avoid spitting in public places, and temporarily avoid visiting infected areas.
Dr. Lahariya added that the current situation is completely different from the situation in 2020 or 2021. Most people experience mild infections, and the number of severe cases remains limited, so there is no need to panic.
