Mexico at risk of losing measles elimination status after more than 9,000 cases since last year
Mexico is facing the possibility of losing its measles elimination status as infections continue to rise nationwide. According to the country’s Secretariat of Health, more than 9,100 measles cases have been confirmed since the start of last year, along with at least 28 deaths. Children between the ages of 1 and 9 account for the largest share of infections, representing more than 2,400 reported cases.
A significant outbreak began Feb. 1 in the northwestern state of Chihuahua. Health officials have not yet determined whether cases in Chihuahua are connected to infections reported in other states. If epidemiological evidence confirms that transmission has continued uninterrupted for 12 months, Mexico could lose the elimination status it achieved in 1996, meaning measles would once again be considered endemic in the country.
The designation is overseen by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations agency responsible for international public health coordination in the Americas. An independent expert commission established by PAHO meets at least annually to monitor and verify measles and rubella elimination across the region. Mexico and the United States have been invited to participate in a virtual review of their respective elimination statuses.
PAHO recently issued an epidemiological alert warning that measles cases are climbing sharply across the Americas. The agency called on member nations to strengthen disease surveillance, improve early case detection and intensify vaccination efforts to close immunity gaps. It also recommended active community and laboratory searches to identify infections more quickly and limit further spread.
Vaccination data highlights a key vulnerability. Of approximately 7,000 measles patients in Mexico with known immunization histories, more than 91% had not received a measles vaccine. About 6.2% had received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, while 2.65% had received two or more doses.
The surge in cases is not limited to Mexico. The United States has reported 2,276 measles cases, the highest annual total in 33 years, including its first measles deaths in more than a decade. This year alone, 733 cases have already been recorded, with infections rising rapidly in recent weeks. A major outbreak that began in West Texas one year ago has spread to neighboring counties and other states. Health officials have warned that if those cases are linked across state lines and continue beyond a year, the U.S. could also face questions about its elimination status.
Canada recently lost its measles elimination status after more than 12 months of continuous transmission, following an outbreak that began in late October 2024. Since then, the country has reported more than 5,200 confirmed and probable cases, underscoring growing regional concern about declining vaccination coverage and sustained virus spread across North America.
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