Mexico (AFP) – The Mexican government reinforced vaccination campaigns against measles and installed filters in schools, in the face of an escalation of infections that placed the country as the nation in America with the highest number of cases.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 05:59 Last modification: 02/10/2026 - 13:10

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus, which can be serious and even fatal for young children.

The Ministry of Health of the State of Mexico, the province with the most inhabitants in the country, reported on Monday that it established filters in all educational centers to detect measles and recommended the use of face masks for teachers and students.

According to figures from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Mexico added 6,428 cases of the disease in 2025, almost half of the 14,891 records in the entire region.

This high incidence is due to the fact that the country had been "decreasing its vaccination coverage, after they had a follow-up campaign about five years ago," Dr. Daniel Salas, executive manager of PAHO's Special Comprehensive Immunization Program, told AFP.

In the first three weeks of this year, Mexico registered 740 cases of the 1,031 reported on the continent, according to the same organization.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that her government is working with the different states to expand vaccination, mainly in girls and boys.

For its part, the federal Ministry of Health maintained that it has "available and sufficient measles vaccines."

PAHO establishes that, among the confirmed cases on the continent, 78% lacked a vaccine and 11% had an unknown history of vaccination.

The disease usually causes a rash with red spots, as well as other symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and swollen eyes. The condition can be complicated by pneumonia or encephalitis, among other conditions.

For this reason, health authorities recommend that minors be vaccinated between 12 and 15 months of age, with a subsequent booster.

The capital authorities also called on the population up to 49 years of age to get vaccinated, since a large number of confirmed cases occurred in people under 50 years of age.

"In Mexico it was above all the lack of purchase of vaccines, which began in 2019. The government changed its purchasing system. It must also be said that health services were substantially stopped being funded. This affected the supply of medicines and vaccines," he explained.

© 2026 AFP

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