health
February 28, 2026
'Viruses don’t know borders': US anti-vaccine rhetoric could impact global measles crisis
Experts say global measles vaccination rates are falling as Trump officials signal a deprioritization of the virus
TL;DR
- Measles vaccination rates are falling globally, leading to several European countries losing their elimination status.
- US anti-vaccine rhetoric, partly influenced by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the promotion of debunked studies, is contributing to vaccine hesitancy worldwide.
- The US is at risk of losing its own measles elimination status, impacting neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico.
- The Trump administration's decision to withdraw funding from the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLNN) weakens global surveillance and outbreak detection capabilities.
- The 'Anti-Vaxx industry' generates significant profits, with some individuals and groups promoting misinformation for financial gain.
- International cooperation and surveillance networks are crucial for containing highly contagious diseases like measles, as viruses do not recognize borders.
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