commentary The HHS secretary's congressional testimony underscores that the nation is unprepared for disease outbreaks Published April 22, 2026 9:00AM (EDT) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has declined responsibility for the nation's worst measles outbreak in decades (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) In the first three months of 2026, America logged roughly 1,600 measles cases — nearly as many as the total number for all of 2025, which was by far the worst year we’ve seen for the highly infectious virus in decades. In fact, because we’ve had more than 12 straight months of continuous measles spread , the nation should soon lose the measles elimination status we achieved back in 2000. I say “should” because Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.…