Measles outbreaks in Somalia: Why immunization gaps must be treated as a public health emergency

The persistent resurgence of measles in 2025 and 2026 underscores a continuing challenge in global vaccination coverage, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those in Somalia and the Somali diaspora in the United States.1 The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the situation in Somalia as a protracted Grade-3 emergency due to the convergence of conflict, climate shocks, and systemic displacement; however, the public health threat is not confined by national borders.2 In the United States, the measles elimination status is currently jeopardized by a significant rise in cases, with 1952 confirmed infections reported by mid-May 2026.