Measles Outbreak Intensifies in the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned Thursday of a worsening measles outbreak across the Americas, particularly as the 2026 World Cup approaches in June in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Measles cases across the continent have been rising sharply since 2025, mainly in North American countries that had previously eliminated the highly contagious and deadly disease.
Last year, more than 14,700 confirmed measles cases were reported across 13 countries in the Americas, resulting in dozens of deaths, or “nearly 32 times” the number recorded in 2024, PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said during a press conference.
“This trend continues in 2026 and is accelerating,” with “more than 15,300 cases” now recorded, mainly in Mexico, Guatemala, the United States, and Canada, he warned.
“The re-emergence of measles in the Americas is a significant setback, but one that is entirely reversible,” he added, stressing that vaccination remains the key response.
