Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Nov. 2, 2026–Nov. 6, 2026.
CDC has now recorded nearly 5,200 measles cases in the U.S. in 2026
The Washington Post (11/7, Shah) reports that the CDC “has now recorded 5,182 measles cases in the U.S. in 2026—the highest number of cases since 1991. The latest CDC figures, published Friday, said there were 5,164 measles cases across 45 states and D.C., with a further 18 cases recorded affecting international visitors.”
Reuters (11/6) reports, “The vast majority of infections were among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, accounting for 96% of cases in 2026, the CDC’s data showed.”
USA Today (11/6, Walrath-Holdridge) reports that the U.S. “is less than a week away from a World Health Organization review that will determine whether the country keeps its official measles-free title, also known as measles elimination status.”
FDA to require GLP-1 warning for potential increased NAION risk
Washington Post (11/9, Wu) reports that the FDA “announced Monday that it is requiring manufacturers of GLP-1 medications to warn that they can increase the risk of” a rare eye condition that can lead to vision loss. This “warning applies to all GLP-1 medications.”
The Hill (11/9, Weixel) reports that non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) “cases have been reported for all currently marketed GLP-1 products, the FDA said.” The condition “can result in acute, painless, decreased vision in one eye, including permanent vision loss.”
AP (11/9, Perrone) reports, “FDA scientists began looking into the problem after the publication of a 2024 medical paper tying the condition to certain patients taking semaglutide.” The AP adds, “An FDA analysis of more than 125 clinical trials found that the problem occurred in roughly 6 of every 100,000 patients who took a GLP-1 for at least one year,” while “the comparable rate for people taking a placebo or other types of glucose-lowering medications was less than 4 per 100,000, the FDA said.” The FDA “also found reports of the problem in its electronic reporting system for drug injuries and side effects.”
You may be interested in: GLP-1s and macular degeneration: Is there a link?
Pan American Health Organization committee to determine whether U.S. will lose its measles elimination status
The Washington Post (11/10, Sun) reports a Pan American Health Organization committee “began meeting Tuesday to determine whether the United States will lose its status as a country that eliminated the continuous spread of measles, a landmark public health achievement attained more than a quarter century ago.” The review—the results of which will be announced next Tuesday—comes after a resurgence of measles “that began with a major outbreak in West Texas in January 2025 and was followed by sustained outbreaks in Utah, Arizona and other states.”
The New York Times (11/10, Mandavilli) says the committee must determine whether the U.S. “has had uninterrupted transmission of measles for more than 12 months.” However, “publicly available data” already show “that several chains of transmission have continued for more than a year in the United States, according to scientists who analyzed the data at the request of The New York Times.” Three chains that persisted “in July 2026—two in Utah and one in Arizona—can all be traced to an outbreak in Texas more than a year earlier. One of those, which was still continuing in Utah in September, had been circulating for over a year in that state, occasionally spilling over into Oregon and Washington.”
Reuters (11/10, Abutaleb) also reports.
Not all people currently diagnosed with obesity should be considered to be in poor health, study suggests
Reuters (11/11, Rigby) reports, “Only between a quarter and a third of people currently diagnosed with obesity should be considered as in poor health, according to a new study.” This study “follows a proposal last year from experts and medical organizations to move obesity diagnosis beyond just body mass index (BMI), based on a person’s weight and height, to include body fat and broader health.” The research “attempts to show what this new definition could mean for diagnosis levels, prevalence, and ultimately, treatment, for a condition the World Health Organization currently estimates affects more than one billion people globally.” The findings were published in Nature.
Frequent episodes of hypnic jerks may be linked to anxiety and poor sleep
HealthDay (11/12) reports that research suggests frequent episodes of hypnic jerks, also known as “sleep starts,” may be linked to “anxiety and poor sleep.” Investigators “surveyed nearly 200 adults and found those experiencing jolts at least once a week reported worse sleep quality, more insomnia symptoms and higher levels of anxiety and depression.” Study “participants reported more episodes during periods of emotional stress. Those with more negative thoughts about sleep also tended to startle awake more often.” The findings were published in PLOS Mental Health.
You also may be interested in: What doctors want patients to know about getting a good night’s sleep.
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