Explore the top 10 extinct diseases making a comeback due to the anti-vaxx movement. Learn why vaccination matters more than ever today.
The Ghosts of Diseases Past
Remember when certain diseases were considered “extinct” or at least under control? Thanks to vaccines, illnesses that once wiped out entire communities were reduced to history lessons. But lately, these old villains are creeping back onto the stage—and they’re not subtle about it. The anti-vaxx movement has left cracks in our immunity wall, and these diseases are more than happy to slide right back in. Here are 10 once-defeated diseases making a comeback because of declining vaccination rates.
1. Measles – The Poster Child of the Comeback Tour
If there’s one disease leading the anti-vaxx comeback parade, it’s measles. Once nearly eliminated in the U.S., measles has resurged in communities with low vaccination rates. Symptoms include fever, cough, and a rash that spreads like wildfire.
The CDC warns that measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of nearby unvaccinated people will catch it (CDC). Deadly effects include pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), and death. In 2019 alone, measles caused more than 207,500 deaths globally, mostly in children (WHO).
2. Mumps – From College Campuses to the Headlines
Next on the tour is mumps, famous for swelling up cheeks and making you look like a chipmunk with a grudge. Thanks to the MMR vaccine, mumps was once rare, but it’s been popping up on college campuses where close contact helps it spread.
While rarely fatal, mumps can cause dangerous effects such as meningitis, deafness, and infertility in men. During the pre-vaccine era, mumps was a leading cause of childhood deafness. The CDC notes that before vaccines, the U.S. saw over 186,000 cases each year (CDC).
3. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) – The Never-Ending Cough Returns
Few sounds are as haunting as the cough from pertussis, also known as whooping cough. This disease was under control for decades, but anti-vaxx sentiments plus waning immunity have brought it back.
Pertussis is especially dangerous for infants, who can’t always be vaccinated yet. Deadly effects include pneumonia, brain damage from lack of oxygen, and death. In 2019, pertussis killed more than 160,700 children under the age of five worldwide (WHO). Without vaccines, it’s not just a cough; it’s a killer.
4. Polio – The Almost-Eradicated Enemy
Polio was once on the brink of extinction, thanks to a worldwide vaccination effort. But in recent years, cases have reemerged in parts of Africa, Asia, and even detected in wastewater samples in the U.S.
This virus can cause permanent paralysis or even death, particularly in children. At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, polio paralyzed more than 35,000 people each year in the U.S. alone (CDC). The WHO warns that halting eradication could lead to 200,000 new cases annually (WHO).
5. Diphtheria – The “Strangling Angel” Back for More
Victorians called diphtheria the “strangling angel” because it formed a thick coating in the throat that suffocated its victims. Vaccination made it rare, but it’s not gone—and declining rates mean it’s making a comeback.
Deadly effects include heart failure, paralysis, and suffocation. The WHO reported more than 8,800 cases worldwide in 2022, many in unvaccinated populations. In the 1920s, diphtheria caused up to 15,000 deaths annually in the U.S. before vaccines (CDC).
6. Rubella – The Quiet but Dangerous Virus
Rubella, or German measles, doesn’t get as much press as regular measles, but it’s equally concerning. It was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2004, but global cases are climbing.
While mild for most, rubella can cause devastating congenital rubella syndrome in babies, leading to deafness, heart defects, and intellectual disabilities. Before vaccines, rubella caused 12.5 million cases in the U.S. during the 1964–1965 epidemic, leading to 11,000 miscarriages and 2,100 newborn deaths (CDC).
7. Tetanus – The Rusty Nail Classic
Everyone’s heard the warning: “Step on a rusty nail, and you’ll get tetanus.” Thanks to vaccines, this once-feared disease has been kept at bay. But as vaccination rates dip, tetanus is finding new victims.
Deadly effects include muscle spasms so severe they can break bones, breathing difficulties, and death. The WHO estimates 25,000 newborns died of tetanus in 2018 alone due to gaps in maternal vaccination (WHO). Unlike other contagious diseases, tetanus comes from bacteria in soil and dust entering wounds—making vaccines the only real defense.
8. Chickenpox – The Childhood Classic Making Rounds
Once considered a rite of passage for kids, chickenpox was largely eliminated thanks to the varicella vaccine. But in communities where parents refuse vaccination, outbreaks are happening again.
Deadly complications include pneumonia, sepsis, and encephalitis. Before vaccines, about 4 million cases occurred annually in the U.S., leading to 10,500 hospitalizations and 100–150 deaths each year (CDC). What was once “just an itchy childhood disease” is far more serious than many realize.
9. Hepatitis B – The Silent Liver Destroyer
While not “extinct” in the strictest sense, hepatitis B was heavily reduced thanks to vaccines. However, with anti-vaxx influence growing, more infants are going unprotected.
Hepatitis B is a silent but deadly disease, often leading to liver failure, cirrhosis, and cancer. According to WHO, hepatitis B caused an estimated 820,000 deaths in 2019, mostly from chronic complications (WHO). Without vaccines, this silent killer could surge once more.
10. Scarlet Fever – A Victorian Throwback
Finally, let’s talk about scarlet fever. This disease terrorized children in the 1800s but had become rare with antibiotics and vaccines. Lately, cases have been reported again, particularly in the U.K.
Though now treatable, scarlet fever can cause kidney disease, rheumatic fever, and in severe cases, death. In the Victorian era, scarlet fever killed thousands of children each year. In recent years, the U.K. has seen spikes, with over 30,000 cases reported in 2018 (NIH).
Conclusion: Don’t Let History Repeat Itself
These 10 diseases are proof that vaccines aren’t just “personal choices”—they’re community protection. The anti-vaxx movement has reopened doors we thought were sealed shut, allowing old killers to sneak back in.
Modern medicine gave us the tools to defeat these diseases once. But if we let misinformation win, we risk living through outbreaks our ancestors fought so hard to overcome. Which of these comebacks shocked you most? Let us know below—and remember, vaccines save lives.
