From January to April, 2,318 cases were registered, most among young people from 1 to 29 years old not vaccinated or without vaccination history
The World Health Organization (WHO) this Monday (28.ab.2025) a warning about the increase of measles cases in the Americas. According to the organization, a total of 2,318 measles casesincluding 3 deaths, until April 18 this year. The number is 11 times higher than that observed in the same period as 2024.
The cases were recorded in 6 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Most of them were registered among people aged 1 to 29, who were not vaccinated or with an unknown vaccination situation. Brazil 5 cases, in 4 states, involving 2 children under 1 year, without vaccination, and 3 adults, of whom 2 with recent history of travel abroad.
Although the vaccine prevents up to 97% of cases after 2 doses, more than 22 million children worldwide did not even receive the first dose in 2023. This scenario contributed to the global increase of cases and the increase in outbreaks, especially among unvaccinated populations.
WHO claims to work closely with the region’s countries to contain the dissemination and reintroduction of the virus. Currently, the risk to the Americas is evaluated as high, while the global risk remains moderate. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can be transmitted by the air and lead to serious complications and even death. Symptoms appear 10 to 14 days after infection and include high fever, rash, runny nose, red eyes, cough and small white spots in the mouth.
WHO guides countries to maintain homogeneous vaccination coverage above 95%, strengthen surveillance actions, update the vaccination status of travelers and health professionals, and ensure adequate inventories of vaccines and medical inputs.
Affected countries
Canada registered 1,069 measles cases, in the largest outbreak since the elimination of the disease in the country in 1998, with most infected not vaccinated or with unknown vaccination status. In the United States, 800 cases and 2 deaths were accounted for, 93% of infections are linked to outbreaks, with a strong concentration in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
In Mexico, there were 421 cases and 1 death, with main focuses in the states of Chihuahua and Oaxaca, predominating among young adults and in a scenario of low vaccination coverage. Argentina confirmed 21 cases, mostly in Buenos Aires, part of them related to international travel.
In Belize, 2 cases were recorded, the first since 1991, in adolescents who participated in a religious event in Mexico.
