Epidemiological Alert - Measles - 20 October 2023

Although great efforts have been made to increase coverage of the first and second doses of the vaccine against measles, rubella and mumps (SRP1 and SRP2), there are still many countries and territories in the Region with suboptimal coverage. Added to this is the occurrence of large outbreaks in different countries outside the Region of the Americas, the continuous importation of cases in countries of the Americas and the occurrence of several massive events that bring together thousands of people. The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) urges Member States to continue with activities to increase and maintain adequate vaccination coverage against measles, rubella and mumps and reiterates that vaccination, epidemiological surveillance and preparing a rapid response to measles and rubella outbreaks constitute the three major strategies to annually monitor and reverify the interruption of endemic transmission of these viruses.