The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported on Friday that measles cases are surging across the Americas, with North America particularly affected as deaths rise in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
PAHO attributed the outbreaks to low vaccination coverage, noting that 71% of cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals and 18% in those with unknown vaccination status. As of August 8, the agency confirmed 10,139 measles cases and 18 deaths across 10 countries in the region—a 34-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024. Of the 18 fatalities, 14 occurred in Mexico, three in the U.S., and one in Canada. Most deaths in Mexico were among Indigenous people aged 1 to 54.
“Measles is preventable with two doses of a vaccine, which is proven to be very safe and effective. To stop these outbreaks, countries must urgently strengthen routine immunization and conduct targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk communities,” said Daniel Salas, PAHO’s immunization official.
Measles is highly contagious, spreading quickly among unvaccinated populations, particularly children. In the United States, a recent CDC study found that vaccination rates for several diseases—including measles, diphtheria, and polio—declined among kindergartners during the 2024-25 school year compared to the previous year.
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