The Ministry of Health (SSa) reported that to date there have been 23 deaths and 5,231 cases of measles in the country associated with the first outbreak that occurred in February.
In a statement, the agency indicated that of the total cases “only 64 remain active today and are distributed in six states: Chihuahua, State of Mexico, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán and Oaxaca.”
In addition, he said that it is important to note that “the contagion curve has shown a significant decrease,” the result of intensive epidemiological surveillance actions, the intentional search for cases, contact tracing and the application of vaccine fences in the affected areas.
Salud de México said that as part of the comprehensive response, vaccination days were carried out nationwide and immunization brigades were deployed throughout the country, expanding coverage to people up to 49 years of age, with priority on agricultural laborers and rural communities.
“To date, 9.76 million doses of the triple viral and SR vaccine have been applied, which has allowed us to expand the protection of the susceptible population and strengthen the control of the outbreak,” said the SSa.
In addition, he said that rapid response teams were sent to the affected areas, home visits are carried out and permanent sessions of the state vaccination councils are held.
Read more: Mexico could lose its measles elimination certification, expert warns
Mexico has until February to maintain measles elimination certification
He recalled that this year the National Vaccination Week took place, from April 26 to May 3 and the National Public Health Week, from September 6 to 13, as well as the installation of the Mega Vaccination Center in Ciudad Universitaria, in coordination with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Public Health System, reinforcing the application of biologicals throughout the country.
On November 13, epidemiologist and vaccination specialist Rodrigo Romero warned that Mexico faces a “very big risk” of losing the measles elimination certification in February 2026, a recognition granted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) when a region demonstrates the interruption of virus transmission for twelve months.
In an interview with EFE, the expert explained that, to maintain accreditation, the country must not register sustained infections until next February, a scenario that seems distant after the outbreak that began in Chihuahua in February 2025, which accumulates more than 5,000 confirmed cases of measles and 23 deaths.
“The certification is lost when twelve months pass with active transmission in the region. If we reach February with new cases, we will lose it, and infections continue to increase,” warned Romero, coordinator of the Mexican Association of Vaccinology.
The specialist attributed the crisis to a “perfect storm” caused by more than a decade of weakening of the national immunization program.
With information from EFE
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