CDC's deputy director says measles outbreak is 'cost of doing business' in a global economy

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 21 January 2026 13:30 EST


A top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been condemned for his remarks that rampant measles outbreaks in the U.S., and increasing concern that America could lose its longstanding elimination status, were the “cost of doing business” in a global economy.

The elimination status, held by the U.S. since 2000, indicates that there has not been continuous spread of the highly infectious disease for more than a year. “It’s just the cost of doing business, with our borders being somewhat porous [and] global and international travel,” Dr. Ralph Abraham, the agency’s recently sworn-in principal deputy director, said in a phone call Tuesday, according to STAT News.

The former Louisiana surgeon general, who had previously advocated for personal choice on vaccines, reportedly added that he would “not really” view the loss of the country’s elimination status as a significant event.

With measles cases at the highest levels since 1991 and unprecedented child deaths from infections, Abraham’s comments were met with swift criticism from public health experts. “This is appalling and not how public health leaders typically respond to ongoing outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases,” Kathleen Bachynski, an associate professor of public health at Pennsylvania’s Muhlenberg College, posted on the social media platform Bluesky.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/health/cdc-measles-outbreak-south-carolina-b2904851.html

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“It’s just the cost of doing business

The former Louisiana surgeon general, who had previously advocated for personal choice on vaccines, reportedly added that he would “not really” view the loss of the country’s elimination status as a significant event.

[RockRaven]

1. These people are positively homicidal.

[bluestarone]

7. Definite DEATH PANEL types!!

And they accused us? Holy shit!!

[NewHendoLib]

2. Cost of having fuckwits in positions of power

[hvn_nbr_2]

19. It's only a cost of doing business in Dumbfuckistan. nt

[Johonny]

3. Or you can get vaccinated

Because it's that fucking easy

[SWBTATTReg]

4. So not protecting Americans is now a 'cost of doing business?" How screwed up is this?

[Dave Bowman]

5. What a moron. 😡

[flashman13]

6. We are in the hands of morons.

[sakabatou]

8. Meaning the deputy director doesn't give a shit

[Puppyjive]

9. Bullshit

It was eradicated at one time. The pure stupidity of the anti vaccine population is to blame.

[Rebl2]

10. So disgusting!

[Rebl2]

11. Suggesting

NO one travel to the United States.

[Martin68]

12. These are the people in care of the nation's health care policy? With geniuses like that in charge we're heading for

multiple epidemics of debases we had all but eliminated with vaccines.

[C_U_L8R]

13. In other words, they think our children are expendable

Just like they think we all have 5-10 houses funding our retirements.
These trumps are so awful and out of touch. Vile is maybe the best word for them.
The country will be so much better off when they are gone.

[Solly Mack]

14. Liar. No, it isn't.

[moniss]

15. So carefree of an attitude when talking about the sickness and death of

other people's children.

[travelingthrulife]

20. Same as their ignorant take on guns. Your kid's death is worth the price for the

stupid second amendment.

[moniss]

22. Excellent point. nt

[Buddyzbuddy]

16. CDC's new mantra, "oh well".

[GB_RN]

17. Worst Amusement Park Ride Ever...

Can we stop the ride now? I wanna get off. 🤦‍♂️

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

18. So, we weren't "doing business in a global economy" before 2025 ...

... when the outbreak began?

How does he define "doing business"?

What changed between 2023 and 2025? Was there a significant uptick in global business?

What about between 1991 & 1993? Was there significantly less global business during those years when reported measles cases dropped from 27K to 300?

I don't think the facts back up his assertion.

Not that the current Regime has much use for facts when making decisions or speeches.

[travelingthrulife]

21. Can't think of anyone right now who deserves a nice case of adult measles more.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

23. MaddowBlog-Key CDC leader calls measles outbreaks the 'cost of doing business'

Deputy Director Ralph Abraham appears unconcerned that the U.S. is losing its measles elimination status. Public health experts aren’t pleased.

Link to tweet

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/measles-outbreaks-elimination-ralph-abraham

One might expect the leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to react to these developments with great concern. But the Trumpified CDC is apparently content to shrug with relative indifference. STAT News reported:

With measles transmission in the United States at levels that haven’t been seen in decades, the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that he would not view the loss of the country’s measles elimination status as a significant event.

‘Not really,’ said Ralph Abraham, a physician who formerly served as Louisiana’s surgeon general. ‘You know, it’s just the cost of doing business, with our borders being somewhat porous [and] global and international travel.’

.
..Abraham added, “We have these communities that choose to be unvaccinated. That’s their personal freedom.”

As The San Francisco Chronicle noted, public health advocates responded to the CDC deputy director’s comments with disgust. Pediatrician and vaccine specialist Paul Offit said in an online discussion hosted by the health blog Inside Medicine this week, “When you hear somebody like Abraham say ‘the cost of doing business,’ how can you be more callous? Three people died of measles last year in this country.”....

Abraham has gone so far as to describe Covid shots as “dangerous” (they are not) and touted ivermectin during the 2020 pandemic, despite science showing the drug was an ineffective treatment.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nevertheless brought the Louisiana Republican in to serve as principal deputy director at the CDC, effectively the agency’s No. 2.

Three months later, Abraham appears wholly unconcerned about the United States losing its measles elimination status.

My siblings and I all had measles before the vaccine. It was not fun. My sister had polio and was on crutches for a while but has recovered. We need vaccinations for all of these diseases.