As the United States Cases have poured into Mexico in efforts to curb the worst measles outbreak in years. In the April 25 report, the Mexican Ministry of Health reported that there were 583 confirmed cases in the country this year, with 560 of which were recorded in the Chihuahua border state. On April 27, the Chihuahua State Health Secretariat increased the number of confirmed cases in the state to 713.
The outbreak of Chihuahua is partly due to its proximity to Texas, which borders the north. A major outbreak in U.S. states has been underway since late January, with cases in Mexico linked to cases north of the border. The United States has recorded 884 measles cases this year, up from 285 in 2024, and three deaths from the disease. Of the cases in the United States this year, 646 are in Texas.
To prevent further spread of measles virus throughout Mexico, its Ministry of Health has issued travel warnings to the United States and Canada, and cases have also risen sharply. The ministry advises travelers to make sure they are vaccinated, practice social distancing, wear masks and wash their hands regularly.
Like the United States, a decline in vaccination levels has also helped boost cases in Mexico. In 98% of this year, patients (both adults and children) have no history of vaccination against measles. A 31-year-old man reportedly died of the disease in Chihuahua due to measles.
Because measles is highly contagious, vaccination rates are high (95%) in the community that need to stop the spread of the virus. But Mexico’s vaccination rate has been faltering. Children should receive two doses of measles vaccine, the first usually between 12 and 15 months and the second time is within the next few years. According to the World Health Organization, in 2023, only 76% of children under the age of 2 received a measles vaccine in Mexico.
If the rate does not increase, this could make the disease endemic again in North America. Measles can rebuild itself and steadily appear in the country over the next two decades, according to an analysis by Stanford University epidemiologists. This will result in 2500 deaths in the next 25 years.
In response to the urgent need to reverse the coverage of Mexico’s vaccination, the Ministry of Health has begun a national vaccination week, the country’s first national immunization campaign since the COVID-19-19 pandemic. From April 26 to May 3, the program is to increase the vaccine levels that are most vulnerable to measles: children aged 1 to 9 years old. The ministry hopes to vaccinate 1.8 million children by providing free vaccines in hospitals, clinics, schools and health centers to keep their lens up-to-date.
Measles is not the only disease in Mexico: DPT (diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus) vaccines are also provided for children over the age of 4, and pneumococcal promoters are provided at 12 months old. Teens, adults over 60 years of age and pregnant women are also invited to obtain specific vaccines that may be needed.
Measles is a viral disease that is considered one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It is mainly transmitted among children. It is transmitted through air through contact with infected nasal or pharyngeal secretions, which initially affects the respiratory tract. Symptoms include high fever, cough, abundant nasal discharge, and rashes spread throughout the body. Complications may include blindness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), diarrhea, dehydration, ear infections, and pneumonia. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
This story originally appeared in wired español and has been translated into Spanish.
