Health officials are sounding the alarm as measles cases surge across Europe just as families gear up for summer vacations. The UK’s vaccination rates remain worryingly low, leaving many travelers—especially unvaccinated kids—at risk in hotspots like France, Italy, and Germany.

A measles outbreak in the small Mennonite community of Seminole, Texas, became a flashpoint for anti-vaccine activists, who clashed with mainstream medical experts. The outbreak exposed how fringe health ideologies can take hold in tight-knit communities, turning a public health crisis into a cultural battleground.

A heartbreaking story out of southwestern Ontario—a premature newborn, already battling measles and other complications, has tragically passed away. The province’s top doctor, Dr. Kieran Moore, confirmed the infant’s death, highlighting the severe risks of measles, especially for vulnerable populations like newborns.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood measles vaccination rates dropped in about 80% of over 2,000 U.S. counties with available data. That means fewer kids are protected against a highly contagious—and preventable—disease, raising concerns about potential outbreaks.