Amid declining vaccination rates and weakened public health systems, the U.S. faces a troubling resurgence of preventable childhood diseases like measles and whopping cough. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States has officially recorded 712 confirmed cases of measles across 24 states — the highest figure since 2019 and a number that’s rising week by week. This spike has put the nation on the brink of exceeding the 1,274 cases recorded in 2019, a milestone that would make this the worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, dating back to 1992.

The majority of cases have emerged in western Texas, where health departments are battling an outbreak that began in January. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 541 cases have been reported in Texas alone, a jump of 36 in just a few days.

Even more distressing: at least two confirmed deaths have occurred in school-aged, unvaccinated children, and a third fatality in an unvaccinated New Mexican adult is under investigation.

Why Are Measles Cases Suddenly Spiking Again?

Once considered eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, measles is making a worrying comeback. The key reason? Lagging vaccination rates.

The CDC has confirmed that 97% of current cases are among the unvaccinated or those with unknown vaccination status. Only a tiny fraction (3%) had received one or both doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which remains over 90% effective in preventing the disease.

The agency recommends two MMR doses — the first at 12–15 months, and the second between 4–6 years of age. Still, vaccination coverage has dropped significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, making communities more vulnerable.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Children remain the most affected demographic. The CDC reports that 11% of all measles patients this year have been hospitalized, most under the age of 19. The outbreak also places babies under one year — too young for their first MMR shot — at high risk of severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.

These outcomes underscore the community-wide importance of high vaccination coverage: when the majority is protected, herd immunity shields those who can’t yet be vaccinated, such as newborns and immunocompromised individuals.

Whooping Cough Isn’t Far Behind

While measles has grabbed headlines, pertussis commonly known as whooping cough is surging just as dramatically — and with deadly consequences.

After reaching historic lows during the pandemic, pertussis cases have skyrocketed by over 1,500% since 2021, with 10 deaths in 2024 — far exceeding the usual 2–4 deaths per year. Already in 2025, the CDC has documented 7,111 cases, more than double this time last year, and experts fear the numbers will spike further as we move into summer and fall.

Recent fatalities include two infants in Louisiana, a child in Washington state (its first pertussis death in a decade), and others in Idaho, South Dakota, and Oregon, where two died last year.

Why Are Vaccine Rates Dropping Fast?

The sharp rise in both measles and whooping cough can be traced back to declining vaccination rates across the U.S. According to ProPublica’s analysis of federal data, at least 36 states have seen a drop in vaccination coverage for key childhood diseases since the 2013–14 school year. In some states — notably Wisconsin, Utah, and Alaska — the drop exceeds 10 percentage points.

For instance, in Washington, kindergarten vaccination for whooping cough sits at 90.2%, just under the national average. But the coverage for toddlers between 19–35 months is just 65.4%, with some counties reporting rates below 12% — levels dangerously insufficient for community immunity.

This crisis isn’t unfolding in a vacuum. Experts point to significant federal cuts to public health infrastructure, including staffing and vaccination programs, over the past decade. On top of that, vaccine misinformation and distrust have surged — exacerbated by political figures with anti-vaccine sentiments.

Ironically, it wasn’t until two measles-related child deaths occurred in Texas that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, acknowledged the importance of the MMR vaccine, calling it “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.” But the damage may already be unfolding.

The measles virus is one of the most contagious pathogens known, capable of spreading via airborne droplets and lingering in a room for up to two hours. A single infected individual can transmit it to up to 90% of nearby unvaccinated people.

Similarly, pertussis poses extreme danger to newborns, who can suffer from breathing pauses, brain damage, and pneumonia. The CDC urges pregnant women and caregivers of infants to receive the Tdap vaccine as a protective measure.

Yet declining trust in vaccines, paired with cutbacks to preventive care access, poses a growing risk to public health — one that could usher in the return of once-contained diseases like polio, diphtheria, and hepatitis B.

This isn’t just a momentary public health scare — it's a wake-up call. Vaccines are not just personal choices; they are public responsibilities. Each missed shot creates an opening for an outbreak, and each outbreak endangers the most vulnerable members of our society.

Recent legal developments have highlighted the importance of advance planning for end-of-life care.

A Living Will is something every adult should consider discussing and creating at some point.

Conversations within families about individual preferences in the event of a terminal illness are an important first step, and these discussions should take place while everyone is still in good health.

Individuals may have very different views about how they wish to be treated if they develop a terminal illness or certain severe, irreversible conditions. For instance, some may not want ventilator support, while others may choose to avoid ICU care.

Some might accept ICU care but prefer not to undergo CPR. Others may prefer not to receive artificial feeding through tubes. Yet others may wish for every possible treatment to be attempted. A few may prefer to spend their final days at home.

Creating A Living Will

It should be noted that a Living Will does not impose any limitation on treatment for common medical conditions such as infections, surgery for curable illnesses, or routine hospital care.

These preferences apply only to situations such as terminal illness—for example, advanced cancer—or irreversible conditions such as a persistent vegetative state.

Creating a Living Will is now relatively straightforward. It must be signed in the presence of two witnesses and attested by a notary or a gazetted officer.

The earlier requirement of countersignature by a Judicial Magistrate has been removed to make the process easier. Templates are also available online that individuals can use as a basis for drafting their own. Before preparing one, it is helpful to discuss the pros and cons of their choices with the family doctor.

It is important to again emphasize that a Living Will is NOT about refusing all treatment, hospitalization, or ICU admission for routine medical care. Rather, it addresses only specific situations.

When such preferences are clearly documented in advance, important decisions about withholding or withdrawing treatment in select circumstances become less contentious.

Doctors and hospitals will no longer be hesitant to withhold unnecessary treatment measures in such situations, as it will already be documented in the patient’s own Living Will. Relatives also will not face the difficult decision of withholding or withdrawing futile medical treatment on behalf of their loved one.

Essentially, the Living Will protects the patient’s wishes when they are no longer able to speak for themselves.

What Happens Without A Living Will

In a terminally ill patient who is unable to communicate, the absence of a Living Will often leads to differences of opinion among family members about what the patient might have wanted.

This uncertainty frequently results in a collective decision to “do everything possible,” just to be on the safe side.

Doctors are reluctant to override the wishes of relatives, even when they believe that further treatment measures are unlikely to be beneficial.

As a result, the patient may receive prolonged medical interventions that neither improve the underlying condition nor enhance quality of life. Once started, these treatments may continue indefinitely until the patient dies naturally.

This may take months, years, or even decades, and also incur huge costs. In the absence of a Living Will, complex legal procedures are required to withdraw these treatments — even if all the relatives are convinced that they should be withdrawn.

Bolivia has reported an outbreak of mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus disease, with cases rising to more than 5,000 nationwide.

Chikungunya is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes -- the same species that spread dengue fever and Zika virus disease. As a result, the disease becomes challenging to diagnose.

The South American country's Ministry of Health, in a statement, shared that "5,371 cases of chikungunya have been registered nationwide".

The worst areas in Bolivia include

• Santa Cruz (4,500 cases)
• Cochabamba (303 cases)
• Tarija (332 cases)
• Chuquisaca (81 cases)
• La Paz (68 cases)

The Ministry informed, "joint efforts to control and manage the vector".

It further noted that an investigation is being conducted to share the results and cause of death, as well as ongoing epidemiological surveillance for all vector-borne disease.

To curb the cases, the Health Ministry noted that "it is supporting the provision of biolarvicide and insecticide for departmental and municipal actions to prevent an increase in cases".

This includes the distribution of about 1,300 liters of insecticide and biological larvicides applied with backpack sprayers, Outbreak News Today reported.

The government also urged the general public to clean weeds from yards and gardens to eliminate the vector’s resting places

Global Cases

In January, the surveillance data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported 2,881 cases of Chikungunya virus disease and no associated deaths from 11 countries in European Union this year.

The ECDC noted that the Americas have reported 2,879 cases and one associated death, with Brazil reporting the highest number of cases in 2026.

In addition to Bolivia, other countries in South America reporting chikungunya include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico.

French health authorities also reported a significant rise in chikungunya disease in Mayotte, an overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 270 confirmed cases have been recorded, Vax-Before-Travel reported.

ECDC data shows that the weekly average of cases in the last two weeks of February 2026 was around 65.

Symptoms And Prevention

There is currently no antiviral drug treatment for chikungunya. While two vaccines against chikungunya have received regulatory approval, it still lacks widespread rollout.

Common symptoms of chikungunya include:

• abrupt onset of fever
• joint and muscle pain
• headache
• nausea
• fatigue
• rash

While serious complications are rare, the elderly and children under one year old may be at risk of long-term symptoms and even death.

The ECDC advised people "to take enhanced measures to prevent mosquito bites".

India's drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), has threatened pharmaceutical firms with action for promoting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among the general public.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of medicines that help lower blood sugar, support weight loss, reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications, and can even lower the risk of early death in people with type 2 diabetes.

In an official circular, the CDSCO warned drug makers from indulging in "direct or indirect advertising" for obesity and metabolic disorders.

The regulatory body also cautioned pharma companies against campaigns using influencers, noting that any violation "could attract regulatory action".

Advertisements, which "function as a surrogate advertisement for prescription-only drugs, shall be viewed seriously and may be treated as irrational or misleading marketing practice", read the letter signed by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Rajeev Raghuvanshi.

The order comes as the CDSCO noted that drugmakers have been engaging in surrogate promotional activities, under the garb of disease awareness campaigns, and digital media outreach.

What The CDSCO Mandated

• Weight-loss drugs, specifically GLP-1 medications, must only be sold with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

• There should be no ads, whether direct or indirect, in print, electronic, digital, social media, or any other public platform intended, directly or indirectly, to promote the product to the general public.

• No GLP-1 drugs must exaggerate for therapeutic efficacy; suggest for assured or guaranteed weight loss outcome; and induce demand for pharmacological therapy

• awareness campaigns
• influencer engagement
• corporate campaigns

Rush For Generic Weight Loss Drugs

The government's advisory comes patent for semaglutide -- an active ingredient in diabetes and anti-obesity drugs, specifically Wegovy and Ozempic -- expires on March 20.

This will allow Indian pharma companies to launch cheaper generic versions, significantly increasing affordability and access for millions battling Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Major Indian drugmakers gearing up to launch their generic semglutide injection in the country in March include Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Zydus Lifesciences, Alkem Laboratories, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and MSN Laboratories.

Obesity A Chronic Metabolic Condition

The CDSCO stressed the importance of "lifestyle modification measures (diet, exercise, behavioural interventions)" in treating obesity.

"Obesity is a chronic metabolic condition requiring comprehensive management, including lifestyle interventions," the regulator said.

"Pharmaceutical therapy, where indicated, must not be projected in a manner that undermines public health initiatives promoting diet control, physical activity, and preventive healthcare," it added.

WHO Guidelines On GLP-1 drugs

Amid increasing prevalence of GLP-1 drugs, the World Health Organisation (WHO), late last year, acknowledged its role in treating obesity.

However, it warned that medications like GLP-1 alone will not solve the problem affecting more than one billion people worldwide.

The global health body also issued conditional recommendations for using these therapies as part of a comprehensive approach that includes healthy diets, regular physical activity, and support from health professionals.