CDC's deputy director says measles outbreak is 'cost of doing business' in a global economy

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 21 January 2026 13:30 EST


A top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been condemned for his remarks that rampant measles outbreaks in the U.S., and increasing concern that America could lose its longstanding elimination status, were the “cost of doing business” in a global economy.

The elimination status, held by the U.S. since 2000, indicates that there has not been continuous spread of the highly infectious disease for more than a year. “It’s just the cost of doing business, with our borders being somewhat porous [and] global and international travel,” Dr. Ralph Abraham, the agency’s recently sworn-in principal deputy director, said in a phone call Tuesday, according to STAT News.

The former Louisiana surgeon general, who had previously advocated for personal choice on vaccines, reportedly added that he would “not really” view the loss of the country’s elimination status as a significant event.

With measles cases at the highest levels since 1991 and unprecedented child deaths from infections, Abraham’s comments were met with swift criticism from public health experts. “This is appalling and not how public health leaders typically respond to ongoing outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases,” Kathleen Bachynski, an associate professor of public health at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, posted on the social media platform Bluesky.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/health/cdc-measles-outbreak-south-carolina-b2904851.html