Measles Elimination Status at Risk for US, Mexico and Guatemala
· World · Al Jazeera, The Independent, LiveMint
The Pan American Health Organization's Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission convened in Washington, DC from Tuesday to Friday to assess measles elimination status in the Americas. The United States, Mexico and Guatemala face potential loss of elimination status due to sustained outbreaks, with the US experiencing its largest and deadliest outbreak in nearly 30 years since January 2025. The commission will review epidemiological data from 2025 and the first half of 2026, examining whether infections stem from separate introductions or local strain circulation. Over 5,000 measles cases have been reported in the US this year, the highest number in 35 years, while PAHO recorded 57,666 confirmed cases across 17 countries and territories between January and October 2026.
Why it matters
The potential loss of measles elimination status in the US, Mexico and Guatemala threatens public health security in these countries and risks regional resurgence, as the virus has already spread across 17 nations in the Americas.
Read the original report — Al Jazeera
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