Mexico Expands Measles Vaccination to Combat National Outbreak
Mexico’s Ministry of Health has broadened its vaccination campaign to include individuals up to 49 years old in an effort to curb a nationwide measles outbreak.The initiative, which has already administered over 42,000 doses in the past week, aims to achieve an immunization coverage rate exceeding 95% among the at-risk population.
The outbreak, which has seen over 2,500 probable cases and nine fatalities, is currently most concentrated in the state of Chihuahua. However, health officials report that containment efforts are proving effective, with the spread largely limited to this region. Other states reporting meaningful numbers of infections include Sonora (84 cases), Coahuila (43 cases), Zacatecas and Durango (21 cases each), Michoacán (14 cases), and Tamaulipas (12 cases).
Measles is affecting both men and women, with the most vulnerable age groups being children aged 0-4 years, who account for 844 cases. Young adults aged 25-29 years (514 cases) and 30-34 years (423 cases) are also substantially impacted.
Experts have raised concerns about potential underreporting of cases due to delays in detection and sample confirmation. Epidemiologist Óscar Sosa explained that the virus can remain detectable for one to two weeks, making timely identification crucial for accurate record-keeping.The free vaccination program is a cornerstone of Mexico’s national epidemiological surveillance strategy. To date, 3,307 patients have recovered from the illness. Health officials are working in coordination with state governments, such as Chihuahua’s, to deploy vaccinators and reinforce public health measures. The primary goal is to prevent further propagation of the virus and achieve its complete elimination within the next three months.
