US Measles Surge Forces Hospitals to Revive Outdated Protocols
The US has recorded over 3,600 measles cases in 2026, the highest annual total since 1991, forcing hospitals to implement strict isolation measures. Pennsylvania and South Carolina are experiencing significant outbreaks, with healthcare systems adopting negative-pressure rooms, remote monitoring, and pre-arrival screening to prevent transmission. Public health officials attribute the resurgence to declining vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy, noting that measles is far more contagious than COVID-19. While some regions maintain high vaccination rates, pockets of unvaccinated populations are driving local clusters, leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths.