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🏥 Healthcare
January 24, 2026

What should our community do to address the rise in measles cases and protect public health?

Data: CDC; Chart: Axios Visuals This chart shows what it looks like to hit a 30-year high in measles cases — and why the U.S. is on track to lose its measles "elimination status." Why it matters: We've all heard that cases are on the rise, but the reality is that they're skyrocketing. It started with an outbreak in West Texas, and now infections are reported in nine states and hundreds are in quarantine due to a major surge in South Carolina.More than out of 10 cases were among unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccination status, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What they're saying: On Tuesday, Ralph Abraham, a top CDC official, told reporters that the end of the measles elimination status in the U.S. would be "just the cost of doing business, with our borders being somewhat porous [and] global and international travel," Stat reported. Driving the news: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other Trump administration officials have downplayed the health risks of the virus, and at times they've spread misleading claims about the MMR vaccine. They only said later that the MMR vaccine was the "most effective way" to prevent the transmission of the virus.South Carolina is one of two major outbreaks in the U.S., along with a region on the Utah-Arizona border. Both are outlying areas where vaccination rates were below the 95% threshold public health authorities say is necessary to contain the virus' spread. What we're watching: The risk of spillover increased with holiday travel. North Carolina and Ohio reported infected individuals who traveled to the outbreak epicenter. The Texas outbreak, which was declared over in August, involved at least 762 cases, mostly in children. There were two deaths, marking the first measles fatalities in a decade

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🏥 Healthcare
January 09, 2026

What factors contribute to the health disparities among states, and what policies could address these differences effectively?

Data: United Health Foundation. Cartogram: Axios Visuals A state-by-state health report card, out today from the United Health Foundation, finds an array of encouraging signs for America: Rates for premature death, drug deaths, firearm deaths and homicides all fell. Rates of cancer screenings, physical activity and volunteerism all increased. But rates of e-cigarette use and multiple chronic conditions increased. Homelessness and unemployment — socioeconomic factors that help determine the nation's health — rose. Why it matters: America's Health Rankings — from the United Health Foundation, established by UnitedHealth Group — synthesize 99 measures of health and well-being, drawn from 31 data sources, to produce a "comprehensive portrait of health at both the national and state levels." State of play: The five healthiest states, based on social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors and health outcomes: 1. New Hampshire2. Massachusetts3. Vermont4. Connecticut5. Utah The least healthy states: 46. West Virginia47. Alabama48. Mississippi49. Arkansas50. Louisiana Go deeper: Read the full report

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🏥 Healthcare
January 07, 2026

What strategies could communities implement to address declining vaccination rates and rising measles cases?

Data: The Washington Post; Note: County level data unavailable for Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wyoming; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios The battle against infectious diseases like the flu and measles has taken a hit with sinking vaccination rates for children in many parts of the U.S., per new data collected and analyzed by the Washington Post. The big picture: Vaccination rates for school-age children have plunged in hundreds of counties as chaos reigns over vaccination schedules, setting the stage for a potentially grim 2026. The new figures offer stark evidence of the extent of the backlash that began during the pandemic against public health mandates. Catch up quick: Plunging vaccination rates contributed to a spike in measles cases, and set the U.S. up to to lose its coveted <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/measles-outbreak-symptoms-elimination-

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