Overview
- The Pan American Health Organization said the Americas no longer hold a measles‑free designation after at least 12 months of transmission in Canada, reporting 12,593 cases across 10 countries this year and 28 deaths.
- In Mexico, the outbreak that began in Chihuahua in February 2025 has resulted in more than 5,000 confirmed cases and 23 deaths.
- To retain its national elimination certification, Mexico must prevent any sustained transmission through February 2026, a threshold experts say will be difficult to meet.
- The government has urged vaccination for everyone aged 6 months to 50 years, though specialists argue lasting recovery will require years of rebuilding immunization systems.
- Seroprevalence studies using more than 10,000 samples show inadequate protection among people aged 0–50, reflecting long‑term declines in coverage, pandemic‑era disruptions, supply issues and rising vaccine hesitancy.