Measles Cases Surge Across Americas, Urgent Vaccination Campaigns Launched
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an epidemiological alert due to a significant increase in measles cases across the Americas, with Mexico reporting the highest numbers. The alert calls for urgent vaccination campaigns, noting that 78% of recent cases involved unvaccinated individuals. This surge follows Canada's loss of measles-free status and poses a risk to the United States and Mexico, which are seeking to contain their outbreaks. The situation is further complicated by the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization, affecting coordinated efforts. In the first three weeks of 2026, PAHO confirmed 1,031 new measles cases across seven countries, a 43-fold increase from the previous year. 
