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🇮🇳 India /Health & Science

SC proposes special courts to hear Manipur violence cases

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • The United States is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, with 2,318 confirmed cases in 2026, surpassing the previous year's record.
  • Experts attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates and growing distrust in health authorities, exacerbated by anti-vaccine sentiment.
  • Despite measles being declared eradicated in 2000, cases have resurged due to vaccine hesitancy, with potential for underdiagnosis and continued rise in infections.

The United States is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak in 35 years, as official figures reveal a dramatic uptick in cases. By July 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 2,318 confirmed cases, exceeding the 2,289 cases reported in the entirety of 2025, which itself was a record-breaking year. This resurgence is alarming health officials and experts, who describe it as an 'avoidable crisis' that disproportionately affects children.

We are witnessing an avoidable crisis that disproportionally hurts children.

— Andrew RacineAndrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, described the current measles outbreak.

Health professionals point to a confluence of factors driving this outbreak, primarily declining vaccination rates and a growing distrust in public health institutions. The spread of anti-vaccine sentiment and misinformation is cited as a significant contributor, fueling fears about well-established immunizations. While measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000 thanks to widespread vaccination, it has made a significant comeback in recent years. This trend is particularly concerning as the vaccine is highly effective and mandatory in many areas, though non-medical exemptions based on religious or philosophical reasons have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic.

We should not accept this as our new normal.

— Andrew RacineAndrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed concern about the normalization of the measles crisis.

Experts warn that the current outbreak may not be contained and anticipate a continued rise in cases. There is concern about underdiagnosis, as individuals hesitant to vaccinate may also avoid seeking medical care. Melissa Nolan, a professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, the state with the highest number of infections, noted the prevalence of online resources that guide people on how to obtain vaccine exemptions. The situation echoes the high case numbers seen in 1991, before the widespread adoption of the two-dose vaccine regimen. Prior to the vaccine's development in the 1960s, measles caused hundreds of child deaths annually in the U.S. and continues to be a major global health threat.

I definitely believe that there is underdiagnosis.

— Melissa NolanMelissa Nolan, a professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, suggested that the actual number of measles cases might be higher than reported.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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