Measles Outbreak in Mexico: 23 Deaths, 5,000+ Cases

Mexico City — The federal Ministry of Health reported that the measles outbreak that began in February 2025 has accumulated 5,231 confirmed cases and 23 deaths nationwide. However, the agency highlighted that the epidemic curve shows a “significant decline” and that as of today only 64 cases remain active, distributed across six states: Chihuahua, State of Mexico, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Oaxaca.

As part of the institutional response, 9.76 million doses of the triple viral vaccine (measles-rubella-mumps) and SR vaccine have been administered, vaccination cordons have been established, rapid response teams have been deployed, home visits have been conducted, and immunization has been extended to people up to 49 years old, with an emphasis on agricultural workers and rural communities.

Among the highlighted actions are the National Vaccination Week (April 26-May 3), the National Public Health Week (September 6-13), and the Mega Vaccination Center set up at Ciudad Universitaria in coordination with UNAM.

Alert Over Possible Loss of Certification

Despite the progress, epidemiologist Rodrigo Romero, coordinator of the Mexican Association of Vaccinology, warned that Mexico faces a “very high risk” of losing in February 2026 the measles elimination certification granted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

To maintain this status, the country must demonstrate 12 consecutive months without endemic transmission of the virus. “If we reach February with new cases, we will lose it, and infections continue to increase,” stated Romero, who attributed the crisis to more than a decade of progressive weakening of the national vaccination program, which he described as a “perfect storm.”

Health authorities insisted that intensive surveillance and vaccination actions continue throughout the territory to definitively stop transmission and prevent the country from regressing two decades in one of the greatest public health achievements in Latin America.