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Measles vaccine push urged in Americas after World Cup
[SÃO PAULO, SciDev.Net] Countries in Latin America are being urged to strengthen vaccination and surveillance to fight measles as the region records the highest number of cases in more than two decades. Low levels of vaccination coupled with travel during the FIFA World Cup have fuelled the resurgence of the highly contagious disease, which spreads easily through the air and mostly affects children, disease experts say. Measles is preventable through vaccination but immunisation coverage for the disease in the Americas is below the level needed to protect the population. So far in 2026 the Americas have recorded the highest number of confirmed measles cases in the last 22 years, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office of the World Health Organization. “Measles leaves no room for complacency. Each outbreak highlights immunity gaps that must be addressed urgently. ” Daniel Salas, executive manager of the special programme for comprehensive immunisation, PAHO Between January and August, more than 51,000 cases of the disease were reported, almost triple the number recorded during all of 2025, when 15,152 confirmed cases were reported and the region lost its measles-free status. In an August advisory, PAHO urged countries in the region to...
