California Fights Measles Outbreaks Amid Budget Cuts and Staffing Shortfalls

California is contending with its first measles outbreaks since 2020, reporting 21 cases across seven counties this year—mostly travel-related. Health departments must quickly identify contacts and quarantine exposed individuals, but funding cuts and staffing shortages are squeezing resources, delaying containment efforts and complicating vaccination outreach even as officials stress vaccination as the best defense.