The US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status. Here's why that matters

International health officials will meet in a few months to reevaluate the United States’ measles-free status. Experts fear the vaccine-preventable virus has regained a foothold and that the U.S. may soon follow Canada in losing the achievement of having eliminated it. The evaluation comes a year after the West Texas measles outbreak began. Scientists are investigating whether multiple U.S. outbreaks are linked. But regardless of the U.S. elimination status, doctors and scientists say the country has a measles problem. At the April meeting, international health officials also will review Mexico’s measles-free status. Its measles outbreak is connected to last year’s Texas outbreak.