Earlier this week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert due to increased measles cases in several countries. As of epidemiological week 8 of 2025 (21 February 2025), 268 measles cases, including one death, have been confirmed in Argentina, Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
According to the PAHO press release, this represents a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 60 cases were reported during the first eight weeks of the year.
Although the region was reverified as measles-free in 2024, measles remains a threat due to its continued circulation in other areas of the world, which increases the risk of importation through travelers and the existence of unimmunized population groups that continue to be vulnerable. Of the 268 confirmed cases in 2025, 69% were in persons older than 5.
Last year, 17,887 suspected measles cases were reported in the region, of which 464 were confirmed.
A notable proportion of these were adolescents and young adults. Notably, 63% of confirmed cases in 2024 had not been vaccinated, highlighting gaps in immunization coverage.
PAHO called on the countries and territories of the Americas to intensify their vaccination and epidemiological surveillance efforts and strengthen their rapid response capacity to contain and control outbreaks.
Recommendations include intensifying vaccination campaigns, especially in high-risk areas, and improving surveillance to detect suspected disease cases promptly.
It was also recommended that vaccination coverage with two doses of MMR (measles, rubella, and mumps) vaccine be maintained above 95%, reaching all populations, with particular emphasis on children and young adults, who constitute a significant portion of the cases.
The risk of measles outbreaks is due in part to factors such as the global circulation of the virus, low vaccination coverage, increased mobility of people in the region, and the similarity of measles symptoms to other diseases such as dengue, which could make it difficult to correctly identify cases.
More than 320,000 confirmed measles cases were reported last year, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data.
PAHO said in its statement that eliminating measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome remains a public health priority for the region.
To this end, all countries must work together to close immunity gaps and ensure that no one is left unprotected against this highly contagious and serious but vaccine-preventable disease.
PAHO continues to monitor the situation and work closely with countries in the region to support their vaccination, surveillance, and rapid outbreak response efforts to prevent the spread and reintroduction of measles and protect the entire population’s health.
The Americas have so far reported 174 cases of measles, triple the number reported in 2024 in the same period. Measles is a highly contagious disease, untreatable, but preventable by vaccination.
Engage now and protect your future #GetVax pic.twitter.com/lNYIdxO40k
— PAHO/WHO (@pahowho) March 7, 2025
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