Measles Outbreak in Mexico: 17 Dead, 4,353 Cases

Mexico City — The Mexican federal government's Secretariat of Health has reported that the measles outbreak in the country has resulted in 17 fatalities and 4,353 confirmed cases. Federal Health Secretary David Kershenobich provided the updated figures on Tuesday, noting that 95 percent of the cases in this outbreak are concentrated in the state of Chihuahua.

Secretary Kershenobich stated that 81.1 percent of the country's population has a complete vaccination schedule, though health authorities are aiming to reach a 95 percent immunization rate in response to the outbreak. The previous report from August 19 had tallied 15 deaths and a total of 4,164 cases.

"We have established a containment effort to prevent its dissemination, and the only way to control it is through vaccination," Kershenobich stated during a morning press conference. "Vaccination is an act of love and protection."

He further elaborated on the government's strategy, noting, "We are implementing a catch-up schedule for 6-year-old children, because during the Covid pandemic, many of these children were not vaccinated. Currently, we have recovered up to 92 percent [coverage] for this group."

Breakdown of Cases by State

The state of Chihuahua leads the list of confirmed cases with 4,051 infections. It is followed by Sonora with 87 cases, Coahuila with 53, Guerrero with 35, and Durango with 22. Zacatecas has reported 21 cases, while Michoacán and Campeche have each reported 14.

Other states reporting cases include Sinaloa with 13, Tamaulipas with 12, Baja California Sur with 8, Mexico City with 6, and Oaxaca with 5. Guanajuato has reported 4 cases, and Quintana Roo has reported 2. The states of Chiapas, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, and Yucatán have each reported 1 case.

Understanding Measles

Measles is an infection caused by a highly contagious virus that can affect people of all ages. It is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth, and pharynx of infected individuals. The disease causes an acute and severe illness characterized by high fever, red eyes, nasal congestion, cough, small raised white spots inside the mouth (Koplik's spots), and a red rash that starts on the face and spreads across the entire body.

The incubation period from exposure to the appearance of the first symptoms, such as fever, is typically 10 to 12 days. The time from exposure to the appearance of the rash is approximately 14 days, with a range of 7 to 18 days.

There is no specific treatment for measles, and most patients recover within two to three weeks. However, the virus can cause severe complications, including blindness, encephalitis, intense diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia, particularly in malnourished children and immunocompromised patients.