CDC Chief reveals what happens if the country loses its measles-free status held since 2000: ‘We’re going to be doing the same exact thing’

The United States faces a potential shift in its public health status this month as global health experts prepare to decide if the country will retain its measles-free designation. This status has been held since 2000, but experts convened by the Pan American Health Organization are expected to issue a final determination by early next week. Many disease experts believe the loss of this status is likely because the nation is currently facing the highest number of measles infections seen in over three decades.

CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz spoke about the situation on Tuesday and mentioned that the agency will not fundamentally change its response even if the country loses its elimination status, CNN reports. She noted that the current plan remains focused on collaboration with individual states to manage the ongoing outbreaks. “Let’s say we did lose our measles elimination status. We’re going to be doing the same exact thing that we’ve been doing today, which is working with the states,” Schwartz said in an interview.

The data shows a clear increase in the severity of the situation. There have been nearly 5,200 confirmed cases in 2026 alone, which is a jump from the 2,289 cases reported throughout all of 2025. Since early last year, state health departments have reported 11 deaths linked to the disease. Schwartz, who was confirmed as the director of the CDC in August, inherited this outbreak after it began to worsen last year.

Schwartz emphasized that the agency will continue its efforts to provide awareness about the virus

She stated that the focus remains on the MMR vaccine as the primary method for preventing infections. “We are leaning in to help them provide awareness about measles, emphasizing, reemphasizing that the number one way to prevent measles is the MMR (combined measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine,” she said.

According to Schwartz, the source of these infections is often tied to closely knit communities where vaccination rates are lower than the national average. She specifically mentioned religious groups, including the Amish in Pennsylvania, as examples of these communities. She explained that many of these families made decisions regarding the vaccine decades ago, and the current outbreaks are the result of those long-standing choices. She believes the current strategy should involve more direct communication with these specific groups to improve understanding of the vaccine.

The broader political environment also plays a role in how these health policies are viewed. US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has frequently questioned the safety and effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. His public position has led to concerns from medical experts who claim his rhetoric contributes to declining vaccination rates.

In August, President Donald Trump and Kennedy introduced an executive order that called for the MMR vaccine to be split into three separate shots. Pharmaceutical companies have suggested that this process could take years to implement, and many doctors have expressed concern that the change might cause more confusion for families.

Schwartz addressed reports suggesting that she or the CDC had faced pressure from Kennedy or his deputies. She stated that she communicates with him daily and maintains a professional working relationship. She noted that Kennedy understands her role as the leader of the agency.

“What has been very clear to me is that the secretary has recognized that I am the director of the CDC, and these decisions and the focus of where we’re going with the CDC rests on my shoulders,” Schwartz said. “At the end of the day, he recognizes that the reason why I’m sitting in this chair is because the CDC needs a leader.”