Health

The United States is experiencing a significant resurgence of measles, with cases already exceeding half the total reported for all of 2025 just two months into 2026. As of this week, more than 1,000 cases have been confirmed nationwide, prompting urgent calls from medical experts for increased vaccination efforts. The outbreaks are particularly concentrated in several states, including South Carolina, Arizona and Utah, signaling a worrying trend for public health officials.

The situation is especially critical in South Carolina, where an ongoing outbreak that began in October has already affected nearly 1,000 people. The majority of these cases are occurring among unvaccinated individuals, highlighting the vulnerability of communities with lower vaccination rates. This outbreak is one of the largest seen in the U.S. Since 2000, raising concerns about the potential for wider spread and severe complications.

“We see very concerning to see more than 1,000 cases in the U.S. This early in the year,” said Martha Edwards, MD, president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Already, we have more than half the number of cases seen in all of 2025, and the number of cases in 2025 was one of the highest annual case counts seen in decades.” Dr. Edwards emphasized the role of misinformation and declining vaccination rates in fueling the resurgence. “As people continue to believe inaccurate information about vaccines, and as non-medical exemption rates continue to rise throughout the country, we can expect case counts to continue to rise, threatening children and immunocompromised individuals with a disease that was nearly eliminated in our country through vaccination.”

South Carolina Outbreak: A Focus on Spartanburg County

The South Carolina outbreak is largely centered in Spartanburg County, a region with a significant population of eastern European immigrant families. According to reporting from the South Carolina Community Health Workers Association, vaccine hesitancy within this community stems from a general distrust of institutions. The virus has spread rapidly through exposures at religious services, grocery stores, schools, and even universities.

Achieving herd immunity – where approximately 95% of a population is vaccinated – is crucial to curbing the spread of measles. While South Carolina currently has a vaccination rate of 92.1% among kindergartners, those remaining 3 percentage points are proving significant. The highly contagious nature of measles means even a small decline in vaccination coverage can lead to outbreaks. As SCAAP notes, the measles vaccine offers 93% effectiveness after one dose and 97% effectiveness after two doses, underscoring the importance of completing the vaccination series.

National Trends and the Role of Vaccine Confidence

The measles outbreak in South Carolina is not an isolated incident. Cases are likewise being reported in Arizona and Utah, contributing to the national surge. Nationwide, over 90% of measles cases occur in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This pattern reinforces the critical link between vaccination and protection against the disease.

The current situation is further complicated by concerns surrounding public messaging and vaccine confidence. Some experts suggest that the Department of Health and Human Services has, at times, inadvertently undermined trust in vaccines. While Ralph Abraham, the CDC’s new principal deputy director, recently endorsed the MMR vaccine, he also emphasized that vaccination remains a “personal choice” for families – a sentiment that pediatricians like Dr. Edwards strongly disagree with.

“When it’s up to the parents, you’re making the decision not just for your child, but for the child’s community as well,” Dr. Edwards stated, as reported by the South Carolina Community Health Workers Association. This highlights the collective responsibility inherent in public health and the importance of considering the broader impact of individual choices.

What to Expect Moving Forward

Public health officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely and implement vaccination campaigns to control the outbreaks. While South Carolina has not yet requested on-the-ground support from the CDC, citing sufficient staffing for contact tracing and vaccination efforts, the potential for further spread remains a significant concern. The coming months will be critical in determining whether these outbreaks can be contained and whether the U.S. Will continue to see a rise in measles cases.

This resurgence serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination in protecting both individual and community health. Continued efforts to address vaccine hesitancy, promote accurate information, and ensure equitable access to vaccines will be essential in preventing future outbreaks.

What are your thoughts on the current measles outbreak? Share your comments below and help spread awareness about the importance of vaccination.

Disclaimer: This article provides informational content and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare and its potential to improve breast cancer screening is now being explored by researchers at UMass Chan Medical School. A new AI-driven tool aims to identify women at higher risk of developing breast cancer, potentially detecting cancers that might be missed by standard mammograms – a critical step in improving outcomes for this prevalent disease.

Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Early detection is widely recognized as key to successful treatment. While mammography is currently the standard screening method, it has limitations, particularly for women with dense breast tissue, where identifying tumors can be more challenging.

Researchers Mohammed Salman Shazeeb, PhD, associate professor of radiology, and Gopal Vijayaraghavan, MD, MPH, professor of radiology, are collaborating with investigators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to test an AI-based risk assessment model. The project is supported by grants from state agencies and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This tool analyzes routine screening mammograms and generates a risk score, estimating a woman’s likelihood of developing breast cancer within the next few years.

Targeted Screening with AI Risk Scores

Rather than recommending supplemental imaging for all patients, the AI risk score helps identify a smaller group of women who could benefit most from additional testing. “Among the roughly 6 to 7 percent of women who scored above our risk threshold, we invited them for contrast-enhanced breast MRI,” explained Dr. Shazeeb. “What’s striking is that all had normal screening mammograms, yet MRI found cancers in some of them that we would otherwise have missed.”

In an initial study of 145 participants, MRI detected four additional cancers despite negative mammography results – a significantly higher yield than typically observed with mammography screening alone in a comparable group of women. This suggests the AI model is effectively pinpointing individuals who require further investigation.

How AI Enhances Cancer Detection

“MRI remains the gold standard for detecting many breast cancers,” said Dr. Vijayaraghavan. “But it’s expensive, time-consuming and not feasible for everyone annually. A tool that helps us focus those resources on women at highest risk could build early detection more efficient and more personalized.”

AI models excel at detecting subtle imaging features that may be imperceptible to the human eye, leveraging patterns learned from extensive datasets. This ability to recognize nuanced signals is a key advantage in identifying potential risks. “The AI can process many more features on an image than a radiologist can visually,” Vijayaraghavan explained. “But it doesn’t think the way a physician does. The tool is trained for performance, not understanding. That’s why these tools are designed to augment, not replace, clinical judgment.”

Human oversight remains crucial for interpreting the AI’s findings and ensuring that insignificant results are not flagged. Ongoing research focuses on optimizing the balance between sensitivity and specificity, and larger studies are needed to validate the tool’s performance across diverse populations.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the initial results are promising, several hurdles remain before AI-guided risk assessment can become standard clinical practice. These include obtaining FDA approval, establishing appropriate reimbursement policies, and ensuring equitable access to the technology. “Before this can be widely applied, we need larger-scale validation and real-world implementation data,” Shazeeb said. “We also have to ensure that it works fairly across diverse populations and different mammography systems.”

Patient engagement is also a key consideration. Sara Schiller, senior research program manager in the Department of Radiology, noted that “Many women I speak with just want to help further research and are not hesitant about AI per se. Many have family histories of breast cancer and are eager to contribute.”

A Personalized Approach to Breast Cancer Screening

Experts emphasize that AI is not a replacement for existing screening methods, but rather a powerful tool that can help tailor screening to individual risk profiles. “The goal isn’t to replace mammograms,” said Vijayaraghavan. “It’s to add another layer of insight, a decision support tool, that helps us find cancers earlier, when treatment is more effective and less invasive.”

As research progresses, tools like this have the potential to usher in a more personalized approach to breast cancer screening, combining the latest technology with clinical expertise to improve outcomes for women. The continued development and validation of AI-driven risk assessment models represent a significant step forward in the fight against breast cancer.

Disclaimer: This information is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.

What are your thoughts on the role of AI in healthcare? Share your comments below, and let’s continue the conversation.