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.”