The state of Jalisco in Mexico has enforced a health alert requiring the use of face masks in schools due to a measles outbreak in the state capital, a significant host city for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. These actions follow an epidemiological alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) earlier this week concerning the spread of measles in the Americas, particularly in Mexico. Mexico has reported 1,981 confirmed cases and over 5,200 suspected cases this year, with Jalisco being the epicenter of the outbreak, recording 1,163 confirmed cases and 2,092 suspected cases.
The measles outbreak originated in Mexico last year in the northern state of Chihuahua when a Mennonite child became ill while visiting relatives in a region in Texas experiencing an outbreak. The outbreak escalated in Mennonite communities, known for vaccine hesitancy, and has spread across Mexico, resulting in the country’s most significant outbreak in decades.
Experts warn that the increasing outbreaks in the region are linked to declining vaccination rates. Mauricio Rodriguez, a microbiology professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico specializing in epidemics, highlighted that Mexico is seeing a surge in cases due to incomplete immunization schedules against measles in many communities. This poses a heightened risk during the summer, especially as the United States, Mexico, and Canada, all experiencing rising measles cases, welcome visitors from around the world for events like the World Cup.
To combat the outbreak, health authorities in Jalisco have mandated the use of masks in schools in specific neighborhoods in Guadalajara for the next month. This move comes as medical groups urged immediate action from local governments, marking Mexico’s first public health mandate since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Efforts to control infections include the suspension of classes in 15 schools in Jalisco and Aguascalientes, as well as the establishment of vaccination centers near schools. Families like Angel Ivan Soto Mendez’s are taking precautions by ensuring their children wear masks and maintaining hygiene practices.
Both the U.S. and Mexico face the risk of losing their measles-free status, with Canada already losing its status in November. The Mexican government has been actively promoting measles vaccination, emphasizing the importance of receiving two vaccine doses. Vaccination sites have been set up in various locations, including airports and bus stations, to encourage the population to get vaccinated against measles.