The Pan American Health Organization warns that the Americas are experiencing their worst measles outbreak in over two decades, with confirmed cases tripling compared to the previous year and urging urgent vaccination efforts.
The Pan American Health Organization has issued a fresh epidemiological alert over measles in the Americas, warning that the region is facing its worst outbreak in more than 20 years and urging countries to close vaccination gaps before the disease spreads further. According to the alert, confirmed cases have already tripled against the total seen in the whole of the previous year, and the public health risk across the region is now classified as very high.
PAHO said 47,500 confirmed cases have been recorded in 16 countries so far this year, along with 44 deaths in three nations. Guatemala has reported the largest number of infections, followed by Mexico, while the United States and Peru account for much of the remainder. The figures point to a sharp escalation from 2025, when there were 15,000 cases and 32 deaths, and to a sustained deterioration from the situation PAHO described in earlier alerts in 2024 and February 2026.
The agency said 95% of confirmed infections are concentrated in just four countries, underlining how quickly local outbreaks can drive regional spread. PAHO has repeatedly warned that imported cases, low vaccination coverage and delays in detecting suspected infections are creating the conditions for renewed transmission. In a statement cited by the Oaxaca-based publication, Daniel Salas, who leads the organisation’s immunisation programme, said measles leaves no room for complacency and can be stopped only through high vaccination coverage, early case detection and swift response.
Measles is among the most contagious viral diseases and spreads through the air or respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include high fever, rash, cough, runny nose and inflamed eyes, and severe complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness and death. PAHO has said travellers should make sure they are vaccinated before visiting areas with known transmission, and it has urged countries to strengthen surveillance, run catch-up immunisation campaigns and respond rapidly to suspected cases.
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