Experts Urge Measles Vaccination as U.S. Hantavirus Cases Totaled 890 Over 30 Years
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 29
Experts Urge Measles Vaccination as U.S. Hantavirus Cases Totaled 890 Over 30 Years
2 articles · Updated · CNN · May 29
Measles is the virus infectious-disease experts say the public should fear most, not Ebola or most hantavirus strains, because falling vaccination rates are leaving undervaccinated communities exposed.
890 U.S. hantavirus cases were reported over 30 years through 2023, and Ebola typically requires direct contact with bodily fluids, making the average traveler’s risk from those headline-grabbing outbreaks extremely low.
60% is the approximate drop in pediatric flu vaccination since before 2019, one expert said, after child influenza deaths hit an all-time high last year; Covid vaccination in children is also slipping.
Millions of fans heading to the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada could amplify spread of measles, flu, Covid, RSV and norovirus, especially if infected visitors return to undervaccinated areas.
Doctors said the best protection remains basic prevention: stay current on vaccines, wash hands, use N95 masks when viruses are circulating, avoid crowded indoor settings if high-risk, and be cautious with food and water while traveling.
Experts say the real viral threat isn't Ebola. So why is a Victorian-era disease like measles making a deadly comeback in 2026?
With US vaccination rates falling and official guidance in flux, how can parents best protect their children from resurgent, common diseases?
The next pandemic might not be a novel virus. Are our workplaces and cities prepared for the rising threat of common infections?