The current measles outbreak has gripped US states like Texas and New Mexico leaving people worried whether it would become a new pandemic. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services as of February 21, 90 cases were diagnosed in the last month in the South Plains area, with at least 77 of them were reported in children and teens under 17.

Measles is highly contagious and can be deadly. The outbreak, which started spreading in late January, has resulted in multiple hospitalizations, with at least nine confirmed cases and three probable cases as of early February. Health officials caution that at least one in five infected individuals will have to be hospitalized, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Misinformation surrounding vaccines and with the new Trump administration anti-vaccine campaigs, has causing parents to hesitate or refuse vaccination.

Furthermore, the country down under Australia is also witnessing a surge in measles cases as health officials in Sydney have issued an urgent alert, urging residents to watch for measles symptoms after an infected individual visited several places in Sydney over the last seven days.

Authorities report that the traveller had returned from South East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles.

What Are The Symptoms Measles?

Key symptoms of measles include fever, a runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough. Typically, a red, blotchy rash appears three to four days later, spreading from the head down to the body. Symptoms can manifest between 7 and 18 days after exposure.

Anyone who experiences these symptoms after potential exposure should immediately contact their doctor or emergency department. It is crucial to call ahead before visiting to avoid potentially exposing others in the waiting room. Dr. Selvey also highlighted that ongoing measles outbreaks are occurring in various parts of the world, making awareness and prompt action essential.

Why It Is Important To Get Vaccinated?

According to CDC everyone should get the MMR vaccine. It protects you from measles, mumps, and rubella. Getting vaccinated helps stop these diseases from spreading. There are two safe MMR vaccines available. They work the same way, so it doesn't matter which one you get. Kids can also get a shot that protects against chickenpox too, but this is only for children.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Kids Need Two Shots

All children should get two MMR shots. The first shot should be given when they are between 12 and 15 months old. The second shot should be given when they are between 4 and 6 years old. If needed, the second shot can be given earlier, but it must be at least 28 days after the first shot.

College Students Need to Be Protected

Students going to college or other schools after high school, need two shots if they are not already immune. The shots must be at least 28 days apart.

Adults Need at Least One Shot

Most adults need at least one MMR shot. Some adults need two shots, especially those who work in healthcare, travel a lot, or go to college. These people should get two shots, with 28 days between them.

Travelers Need to Be Extra Careful

Anyone traveling to other countries should make sure they are protected. Babies 6 to 11 months old should get one shot before traveling. Kids 12 months and older, teens, and adults need two shots, with 28 days between them.

Healthcare Workers Must Be Immune

People who work in healthcare should have proof that they are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella. If they are not immune, they need two MMR shots, spaced 28 days apart.

Women Thinking About Having Babies

Women who might get pregnant should talk to their doctor about the MMR vaccine. It's safe to get the shot while breastfeeding.

Pennsylvania recently announced that an unvaccinated individual tested positive for measles and died, becoming the sixth measles-associated death of 2026. The state's outbreak continues to expand as confirmed infections have now crossed 1,400 cases across 45 of its 67 counties.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed on November 4 that the resident was from Jefferson County. Officials did not release more details about the individual.

The latest death brings Pennsylvania's total to six this year. The state has recorded 1,467 confirmed measles cases across 45 counties, with 283 hospitalisations, according to its latest update.

The outbreak began in late April and has become one of the largest measles outbreaks in the United States in more than three decades.

Pennsylvania Reports Six Measles-Associated Deaths

Also read: New York Reports First Measles-Associated Death In 30 Years As Cases Continue To Rise

The six deaths confirmed by Pennsylvania health officials involved residents of three counties, in which three were from Lancaster County, two from Jefferson County and one from Mifflin County.

The state also addressed reports of a separate death involving a Franklin County resident in October. However, its investigation had not found evidence meeting the criteria to classify that death as measles-associated as of November 4.

Pennsylvania's definition requires a person to have clinical evidence of measles infection and a positive laboratory test, with death occurring within 30 days since symptom begins.

There is also a difference between state and federal death counts. Pennsylvania has confirmed six deaths, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported three measles-related deaths in its national tally as of October 29. The CDC is working on standard definition to ascertain how measles-associated deaths are classified across states.

US Reports Nearly 4,900 Measles Cases In 2026

Also read: US Midterm Elections 2026: Abortion, Medicaid, Measles And Healthcare Issues At Stake

Pennsylvania is at the centre of a wider resurgence of measles in the country. The CDC reported 4,852 confirmed measles cases in the US as of October 29, 2026. Of these, 96% were connected to outbreaks.

The state also saw a sharp increase in vaccination activity. Healthcare providers administered more than 61,000 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine doses in October, more than twice the usual monthly number of approximately 25,000 doses.

Measles Is Life-Threatening

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.

Initial symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A rash usually develops several days later, beginning on the face and spreading down the body.

Although many people recover, measles can cause serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. It can also weaken the immune system and increase vulnerability to other infections.

The MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection. Two doses are approximately 97% effective against measles.

Pennsylvania health officials recommend that people check their vaccination records and speak to a healthcare provider if they are unsure whether they have received the recommended doses.

Infants aged six to 11 months living in or travelling to areas with sustained measles transmission may also be advised to receive an early vaccine dose. This does not replace the two routine doses recommended later.

The “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., played a key role in helping Donald Trump win the presidency in 2024. Two years later, it faces growing political opposition, with Democrats challenging the Trump administration’s healthcare policies and Kennedy’s approach to public health.

In a historic shift in the balance of power, the Democratic Party has won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 3 November 2026 midterm elections, delivering a major setback to Trump and the Republican Party. The results gives Democrats greater scope to scrutinise and reverse the administration’s healthcare agenda, including Medicaid funding, federal health agency budgets and vaccine policies.

However, their ability to reverse existing policies will be constrained by presidential veto powers and the 60 Senate votes generally needed to overcome a filibuster. The new Congress is expected to take office in January 2027.

What Were The Key Healthcare Issues In The 2026 US Midterms?

Also read: 2026 US Election Results: What Annie Andrews And Amy Acton’s Wins Could Mean For Healthcare In America

• Healthcare costs: Rising insurance premiums, medical bills and prescription drug prices remained major concerns for voters.
• Medicaid: Funding changes and proposed work requirements raised concerns about millions potentially losing health coverage.
• Abortion rights: Ballot measures in Idaho, Nevada, Virginia and Missouri brought reproductive rights and access to abortion care into focus.
• Measles and vaccines: The US reported 4,852 confirmed measles cases across 47 jurisdictions as of October 29, 2026. Falling childhood vaccination coverage and changes to federal vaccine recommendations added to concerns.
• Prescription drug prices: Medicare drug price negotiations, Republican drug-pricing initiatives and rising spending on GLP-1 medications featured in the healthcare affordability debate.

Healthcare Candidates Who Won and Lost

More than 100 doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals entered the 2026 US elections, in what was described as an unprecedented wave of candidates healthcare backgrounds.

Several Democratic candidates with healthcare and public health backgrounds secured major victories. These included:

• Dr. Annie Andrews: A practising paediatrician who defeated Darline Graham in South Carolina, becoming the first woman doctor elected to the US Senate.
• Dr. Amy Acton: A preventive medicine specialist and former director of the Ohio Department of Health who won the Ohio gubernatorial race.
• Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: An epidemiologist and former director of Detroit’s public health department who defeated Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race.
• Xavier Becerra: The former US Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary under the Biden administration who won the California gubernatorial race.

Read More: US Midterms: Where Did Voters Support Abortion Rights And Where Did They Reject Them?

At the same time, several Republican candidates associated with healthcare and the MAHA movement also faced defeats. They included:

• Sen. Roger Marshall: An obstetrician-gynaecologist and founding member of the congressional MAHA Caucus who lost his Senate re-election bid in Kansas to Adam Hamilton.
• Zach Lahn: A prominent MAHA supporter who lost the Iowa gubernatorial race to Democrat Rob Sand.
• Vivek Ramaswamy: A former biotechnology executive who lost the Ohio gubernatorial race to Dr. Amy Acton.
• Rick Jackson: The founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare who lost the Georgia gubernatorial race to Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Why RFK Jr.’s MAHA Movement Became An Election Issue

The MAHA movement, which promised to tackle chronic diseases and reform America's healthcare system, has faced criticism over Kennedy's approach to vaccines and public health. Changes to federal vaccine recommendations have become contentious amid a measles resurgence threatening the US' measles elimination status.

Pennsylvania reported 1,426 measles cases and five associated deaths as of October 30, 2026, its first measles fatalities in 35 years. The outbreak also triggered a public dispute between Kennedy and Governor Josh Shapiro over the deaths and claims about fetal tissue used in developing the MMR vaccine.

Beyond vaccines, MAHA's push to address ultra-processed foods, food additives and pesticides such as glyphosate has faced criticism over delays and concerns about corporate influence on food policy.

Autism has also emerged as a contentious issue. Trump's and Kennedy's September 2025 announcement on investigating possible autism causes, including a proposed link with acetaminophen use during pregnancy, and the CDC's July 2026 revision questioning the established scientific position on vaccines and autism drew criticism from health experts. Extensive evidence has found no causal link between vaccines and autism.

Looking ahead, Democratic lawmakers could use their control of Congress to scrutinise Kennedy's public health policies, demand scientific evidence behind federal health decisions and push for greater investment in vaccination and disease prevention programmes.

What Could Democratic Control Mean For Vaccine Policy?

Trump's changes to childhood vaccination recommendations could become a focus of congressional scrutiny. In August 2026, he signed an executive order recommending separate MMR shots once individual vaccines become available and separate appointments for childhood vaccinations, where feasible.

Healthcare professionals have warned that additional injections and appointments could complicate vaccination for families and increase the risk of delayed or missed doses.

The administration has also moved away from the universal hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation. Under revised CDC guidance adopted in December 2025, parents of infants born to mothers who test negative can decide with healthcare providers whether to administer the vaccine at birth or begin the series later.

Democrats could hold hearings and investigate changes to CDC vaccine recommendations, the restructuring of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the removal of vaccine experts from advisory panels. They could also scrutinise staffing and funding changes at federal health agencies.

However, congressional oversight does not automatically allow Democrats to reverse executive decisions or remove Kennedy as HHS secretary. Their influence will depend on their ability to pass legislation, shape federal funding and secure support for changes to the administration's healthcare policies.

One of the central healthcare issues surrounding the November 3 US midterm elections were abortion rights.

Voters in Virginia, Nevada and Missouri supported measures that protect access to abortion, while voters in Idaho voters rejected a proposal that could have formed new policies for reproductive healthcare freedom.

The results show how differently abortion access is being shaped across states after the US Supreme Court decided to overturn the constitutional right in 2022.

When Abortion Became A State-Level Issue In The US?

In 1973, the US Supreme Court recognised a constitutional right to abortion access in its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. This meant states could not ban abortion before fetal viability, which is the point at which a foetus can survive outside the uterus.

That changed in June 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade through its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The decision removed the federal constitutional protection and granted significant authority to regulate abortion rights to individual states.

Since then, US states have adopted different laws to control abortion rights. Some have introduced near-total bans, while others have added constitutional protections for abortion and enabled reproductive healthcare.

Also read: 2026 US Election Results: What Annie Andrews And Amy Acton’s Wins Could Mean For Healthcare In America

Virginia Voters Approve Constitutional Protection For Abortion

Virginia voters approved Question 1, a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive freedom, which includes access to abortion, contraception, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, miscarriage management and fertility treatment.

The amendment also protects patients and healthcare professionals from punishment for their decisions related to reproductive healthcare.

It allows the state to regulate abortion during the third trimester, while granting exceptions when the pregnant person's health is at risk.

This has cemented Virginia's position as a pro-choice state, protecting reproductive healthcare access, particularly in the South, where several other states have imposed strict abortion regulations. The amendment is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Also read: US Midterms 2026: 125 Doctors, Nurses And Health Experts Join Election Battle

Nevada Voters Supported Abortion Protection

Nevada voters approved Question 6, a measure that establishes constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability. After that point, abortion would remain permitted when necessary to protect the pregnant person's life or health.

The measure had also received voter approval in 2024. Nevada requires constitutional amendments to be approved in two successive elections before they can become part of the state constitution. The latest vote therefore clears the second hurdle.

Abortion was already legal in Nevada up to 24 weeks under a state law approved by voters in 1990. Question 6 provides an additional layer of protection by placing abortion rights in the state constitution, making them harder to change in the future.

Also read: US Midterm Elections 2026: Abortion, Medicaid, Measles And Healthcare Issues At Stake

Missouri Voters Reject Attempt To Roll Back Abortion Protections

Missouri voters rejected Amendment 3, which sought to repeal reproductive freedom protections approved by voters in 2024.

The proposed amendment would have significantly restricted abortion access, allowing it in very limited circumstances involving medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and pregnancies resulting from rape or incest within the first 12 weeks.

With approximately 55% voting against the measure, the 2024 constitutional protections remain in place.

The result marks a second significant vote on abortion rights in Missouri in two years. In 2024, voters had approved the constitutional amendment that helped overturn the state's near-total abortion ban.

Idaho Voters Reject Proposal That Support Reproductive Freedom

Idaho voters rejected Proposition 1, which would have established a statutory right to make reproductive healthcare decisions, including abortion until fetal viability.

The proposal also covered contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy-related care, childbirth and miscarriage treatment. It sought to create exceptions to the state's near-total abortion ban.

According to reports 55.4% voted against the measure and 44.6% voted in favour after about 85% of votes had been counted. With the proposal defeated, Idaho's existing near-total abortion ban remains in place.

The results do not just affect if abortion is legally available in a state, they also shape how patients and doctors navigate pregnancy healthcare. Restrictions can create uncertainty for doctors, especially when a pregnancy threatens a patient's health but does not clearly meet the legal definition of an emergency. This can affect time-sensitive treatment decisions related miscarriage management.