March 2 (Reuters) – The MMR vaccine remains the most reliable and effective way to prevent the spread of measles, Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Monday.
“There is no cure for measles, which is why prevention is so important. The MMR vaccine remains the most reliable and effective way to prevent measles,” Bhattacharya said in a video posted on X.
Bhattacharya said the CDC is increasing resources to support prevention and response efforts and is regularly coordinating with health officials across the country.
“We stand ready to provide CDC technicians, laboratory support, vaccines and treatments upon request,” he said.
As of February 26, 1,136 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in the United States in 2026, according to the latest data from the CDC.
Bhattacharya, who is also the director of the National Institutes of Health, became acting CDC director in February.
(Reporting by Sneha SK in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
