‘The Child Is Terrified’: Doctors on the Front Lines of a Measles Comeback Speak Out

Hear from six pediatricians in measles hot spot Utah as the U.S. faces infection levels not seen in over three decades and prepares to lose its status as a country that eliminated the dangerous disease.

By: Amy Maxmen

Outlets: KFF Health News

Published: July 24, 2026

Words: 2,896

Last Updated: 6 days, 23 hours ago

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This isn’t just a bad year for measles. It looks to be the start of a bad era. Confirmed measles cases just hit a 35-year high, and it’s only July. Together with last year, the number of cases has exceeded the combined total over the previous 25 years. The vast majority of cases stem from domestic outbreaks fueled by low rates of vaccination—and rates are declining.

For the first time in a quarter century, …

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