The Pan American Health Organization warns of a surge in measles across the Americas, urging countries to bolster vaccination amidst the region’s most severe outbreak in two decades.
The Pan American Health Organization has issued an epidemiological alert urging countries across the Americas to step up measles vaccination, as the region faces its heaviest burden of the disease in more than 20 years. According to the organisation, confirmed cases this year have climbed to 47,500 across 16 countries, with 44 deaths reported in three countries, more than three times the total recorded in 2025.
PAHO said 95% of confirmed infections are concentrated in Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru, underscoring how sharply the outbreak has clustered in a handful of countries. The agency classified the public health risk as very high, warning that deaths could rise further and that international travel and mass gatherings may help spread the virus into new areas, especially where healthcare access is limited.
The alert builds on a series of warnings issued by PAHO over the past two years as measles cases have re-emerged in the region. In late 2024, the agency recorded thousands of suspected infections and hundreds of confirmed cases across multiple countries, and it called on governments to strengthen vaccination, surveillance and rapid response. PAHO also reaffirmed in December that the Americas had retained its status as a region free of endemic measles, though it warned that clusters and imported cases threatened that achievement.
Measles is among the world’s most contagious infections and spreads through the air and respiratory droplets. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis and a rash. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness or death. PAHO says vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent illness and stop transmission, and it is urging health authorities to close immunity gaps before the outbreak widens further.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
