Roundup and analysis of the top headlines on health security, pandemic preparedness, COVID-19, and other news from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
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May 15, 2025
TOP NEWS
U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 1,000 in 2025; Texas-Centered Outbreak Largest Since 2019
The confirmed number of measles cases in the U.S. this year officially exceeded 1,000 in early May, although the actual number likely is higher. One ongoing outbreak is the nation’s largest since 2019, and the total count marks only the second time in 30 years that more than 1,000 cases have been confirmed. CDC is tracking 14 outbreaks nationwide responsible for 93% of cases, and these outbreaks threaten the nation’s elimination status first achieved in 2000. Nearly all the infections are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, particularly children.
Most of the cases are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. A recent outbreak in North Dakota prompted officials to require nearly 200 unvaccinated school-aged children to quarantine for three weeks following exposure at their schools. Health officials in the U.S., and across the border in Mexico, are working to vaccinate those who need shots amid federal funding cuts and misinformation about vaccines and treatments.
Secretary Kennedy faces questions on vaccines
Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spread mixed messages about it and other vaccines, including at congressional hearings yesterday. During heated exchanges with lawmakers, Kennedy misrepresented vaccine safety testing standards, skirted questions about whether he would vaccinate his own children today, and repeated misleading claims about vaccine ingredients and effectiveness, even as he argued that his “opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” Lawmakers and public health experts have criticized Secretary Kennedy for fueling confusion and undermining vaccine confidence. According to a new poll, only about one-third of Americans say the Trump administration is handling the measles outbreaks responsibly.
This Health Affairs Forefront article, authored by members of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) at the Center for Health Security, explains how predictive analytics can transform a measles outbreak response from a reactive scramble into a proactive strategy that addresses the situation early.
MORE HEADLINES
TOP NEWS
U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 1,000 in 2025; Texas-Centered Outbreak Largest Since 2019
The confirmed number of measles cases in the U.S. this year officially exceeded 1,000 in early May, although the actual number likely is higher. One ongoing outbreak is the nation’s largest since 2019, and the total count marks only the second time in 30 years that more than 1,000 cases have been confirmed. CDC is tracking 14 outbreaks nationwide responsible for 93% of cases, and these outbreaks threaten the nation’s elimination status first achieved in 2000. Nearly all the infections are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, particularly children.
Most of the cases are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. A recent outbreak in North Dakota prompted officials to require nearly 200 unvaccinated school-aged children to quarantine for three weeks following exposure at their schools. Health officials in the U.S., and across the border in Mexico, are working to vaccinate those who need shots amid federal funding cuts and misinformation about vaccines and treatments.
Secretary Kennedy faces questions on vaccines
Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spread mixed messages about it and other vaccines, including at congressional hearings yesterday. During heated exchanges with lawmakers, Kennedy misrepresented vaccine safety testing standards, skirted questions about whether he would vaccinate his own children today, and repeated misleading claims about vaccine ingredients and effectiveness, even as he argued that his “opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” Lawmakers and public health experts have criticized Secretary Kennedy for fueling confusion and undermining vaccine confidence. According to a new poll, only about one-third of Americans say the Trump administration is handling the measles outbreaks responsibly.
This Health Affairs Forefront article, authored by members of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) at the Center for Health Security, explains how predictive analytics can transform a measles outbreak response from a reactive scramble into a proactive strategy that addresses the situation early.
MORE HEADLINES
WHO halves senior leadership team, significantly reduces number of departments
STAT: WHO trims top management ranks amid financial crunch
Devex: Tedros reveals new WHO leadership without deputy Mike Ryan
Geneva Health Files: The New Leadership Team at WHO: Restructuring Update
See also: USA Today: Who needs the WHO? Americans' poor health leaves us vulnerable. (opinion)
WHO member states begin process to reach final pandemic agreement
Health Policy Watch: WHO Outlines Long Road Ahead Before Pandemic Agreement Comes into Force
The BMJ: Pandemic treaty is a win for multilateralism and global health (opinion)
Related: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Introduction: How to stop the next pandemic
RFK Jr. defends vaccine messaging, HHS cuts, MAHA agenda in congressional hearings
The Hill: 4 takeaways from RFK Jr.’s dual congressional hearings
STAT: In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out
New York Times: Kennedy, Defending Downsizing, Clashes With Democrats in Tense Hearings
Science: Kennedy, Trump’s health chief, confronts criticism and praise from U.S. lawmakers
Related: Washington Post: Unpacking RFK Jr.’s ‘doublespeak’ on vaccines
Rep. Sen. Cassidy light on scrutiny in hearing after questioning RFK Jr. during confirmation process
NBC News: GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who wavered over confirming RFK Jr., says he's 'lived up' to his promises on vaccines
Politico: Why the 1 senator who can rein in RFK Jr. isn’t calling him out
See also: STAT: Former FDA head Robert Califf says RFK Jr.’s vaccine rhetoric is ‘doing harm’ to Americans
Media outlets profile NIH director in interview, FDA CBER head in analysis
Politico: Trump’s NIH Chief Lets Loose on Fauci, Vaccines and Covid Cover-Ups
The Guardian: Critic of Covid boosters set to enact tough agenda as top US vaccines official
Experts discuss gain-of-function research, oversight in podcast, analysis
BBC: Science in Action - Gain-of-Function: Loss-of-Funding
Think Global Health: A Bio-Responsibility Strategy for Gain-of-Function Research Oversight
Related: Tony Blair Institute: A New National Purpose: Biosecurity as the Foundation for Growth and Global Leadership
U.S. cuts to domestic, international bird flu programs raise concerns among farmers, experts
Financial Times: American farmers raise alarm as US cuts funds for UN bird flu fight
Reuters via AOL: Staff exodus at US farm agency leaves fewer experts to battle bird flu
See also: News Medical: New model reveals H5N1 is spreading undetected in US dairy herds
COVID vaccine recommendations likely to become more targeted; FDA says new industry ‘framework’ coming soon
STAT: Beyond politics, even U.S. vaccine experts may envision fewer Covid shots in the future
STAT: FDA commissioner says new vaccine ‘framework’ for industry is coming within weeks
Bloomberg: RFK Jr. Takes Aim at Covid Shots for Kids, Worrying Vaccine Experts
Related: Nature: How political attacks could crush the mRNA vaccine revolution
Angola experiencing severe cholera outbreak; situation requires regional response, African officials say
Medical Xpress: Angola sees over 20,000 cholera cases since January: ministry
CIDRAP: African officials eye coordinated response to curb cholera outbreaks
ICYMI: The Lancet: Angola's cholera outbreak: a wake-up call for global action
New medical tools for RSV likely helped lower hospitalizations among very young children
STAT: RSV sent fewer babies to the hospital last winter, after new treatment and vaccine arrived
AP: US infant mortality dropped in 2024. Experts partly credit RSV shots
See also: CIDRAP: US flu activity now at low levels, but CDC confirms 10 more kids' flu deaths
U.S. government advises against chikungunya vaccine for older adults, issues travel warning for Indian Ocean region over outbreaks
AP: US health officials advise older travelers not to get a chikungunya vaccine
CIDRAP: CDC issues Indian Ocean travel warning over chikungunya outbreaks
Related: France 24: Europe on brink of endemic dengue and chikungunya as mosquitoes move north
Researchers work to unravel mystery of malaria complication, modify mosquitoes to prevent disease transmission
The Guardian: The deadly riddle of blackwater fever: the search for answers over illness killing Uganda’s children
The Guardian: GM mosquitoes: inside the lab breeding six-legged agents in the war on malaria
Mpox cases surge in Sierra Leone; other affected nations see promising signs
CIDRAP: Sierra Leone battles mpox surge
TV 360 Nigeria: Sierra Leone Reports More Than 2,000 Mpox Cases, 11 Deaths
See also: WHO: Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report #52 - 14 May 2025
Papua New Guinea faces first polio outbreak since 2018; Nigeria uses wastewater to track disease
ABC News (Australia): Polio outbreak confirmed in Papua New Guinea, World Health Organization says
Nature Africa: Nigeria’s polio battleground
Saudi Arabia reports nine new MERS cases, including two deaths, asymptomatic cases in health workers
CIDRAP: Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster
Vax Before Travel: Fatal MERS Outbreak Confirmed in Arabia
U.S. suspends imports of live cattle, bison, horses from Mexico over screwworm concerns
NPR: U.S. halts cattle imports from Mexico, citing fears of flesh-eating maggot
AP: Mexico says US suspension of beef imports because of screwworm is unfair
U.S. listeria outbreak sickens at least 10 people
AP: At least 10 people sickened in US listeria outbreak linked to prepared foods
USA Today: Ready-to-eat chicken prompts public health alert over listeria risk: See affected states
Migrants run Jan. 28, 2025, after entering the United States undetected through a hole in a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at in Sunland Park, N.M. (OSV News photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)
January 31, 2025 
Migrants run Jan. 28, 2025, after entering the United States undetected through a hole in a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at Sunland Park, N.M. (OSV News photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)
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