Health authorities across the Americas warn of their heaviest measles caseload in over 20 years, urging governments to bolster immunisation efforts amid rising travel and declining vaccine coverage.
Health authorities across the Americas are pressing governments to boost measles vaccination and outbreak surveillance after the region reported its heaviest caseload in more than 20 years.
The warning comes as the Pan American Health Organization says the region has already recorded tens of thousands of confirmed infections this year, far above 2025 levels. PAHO said the surge has been driven by gaps in routine immunisation, with the disease spreading most easily among unvaccinated children and communities where coverage has slipped below the level needed to stop transmission.
PAHO’s latest situation report said the Americas had logged 47,026 confirmed cases by late July, with Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Canada accounting for almost all infections. Earlier PAHO figures showed children aged one to nine were among the most affected, while infants under one had the highest incidence rates. The organisation has also said most confirmed patients had not been vaccinated or had no known vaccine history.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said as of 10 September the country had 3,294 confirmed cases across 47 jurisdictions. SciDev.Net reported that the US had 39 outbreaks by mid-September, underscoring how quickly the virus has spread in a country that has long been considered measles-eliminated.
Public health specialists say the rise in cases reflects a mix of reduced vaccine uptake and increased travel, including movement across the region during the World Cup hosted by Mexico, the US and Canada in June and July. Daniel Salas of PAHO said the disease leaves no room for complacency, while Brazilian vaccination expert Renato Kfouri stressed that maintaining high coverage is essential to prevent imported cases from becoming outbreaks.
The CDC says two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, and PAHO says at least 95% coverage is needed to protect communities through herd immunity. PAHO has urged countries to strengthen vaccination, surveillance and rapid response systems, warning that the public health risk remains very high. The organisation says the loss of the region’s measles-free status last year makes closing immunisation gaps even more urgent.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
