Mexico is facing a growing measles outbreak, prompting health alerts and the implementation of mandatory mask policies in schools in Jalisco, a key host state for the FIFA World Cup. The outbreak is occurring against a backdrop of declining vaccination rates across the Americas, raising concerns about potential spread during large international events.
Rising Cases and Public Health Response
On , Jalisco state officials issued a health alert and mandated the use of face masks in schools across seven neighborhoods in Guadalajara for the next 30 days. This measure comes after an epidemiological alert was issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) earlier this week regarding the spread of measles throughout the Americas, with Mexico currently leading the region in confirmed cases.
As of this week, Mexico has confirmed 1,981 measles cases and has more than 5,200 suspected cases. Within Jalisco, 1,163 cases have been confirmed, with an additional 2,092 cases currently under investigation. The outbreak began last year in the northern state of Chihuahua, linked to a child from a Mennonite community who contracted the illness while visiting relatives in Texas, which was experiencing its own outbreak.
Mennonite Communities and Vaccine Hesitancy
The measles virus has spread rapidly within Mennonite communities, where vaccine hesitancy is a significant factor. This has led to a wider ripple effect across Mexico, representing the country’s largest outbreak in decades. Declining vaccination rates are a key driver of the increasing number of outbreaks across the hemisphere, according to experts.
Mauricio Rodríguez, a microbiology professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explained that many communities in Mexico lack full immunization schedules against measles. This poses a heightened risk as the United States, Mexico, and Canada – all experiencing rising measles cases – prepare to host visitors from around the world for the World Cup. “With the World Cup, many people are going to be visiting from outside (Mexico) and that represents a risk of introducing even more outbreaks from other places,” Rodríguez said.
World Cup Concerns and Control Efforts
Guadalajara is one of the main venues for the World Cup, increasing the potential for international spread. The Jalisco health authorities’ decision to mandate masks in schools reflects a proactive approach to mitigate this risk, and marks the country’s first such public health mandate since the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the mask mandate, classes have been suspended in 15 schools in Jalisco and the neighboring state of Aguascalientes due to measles outbreaks. Authorities are also working to increase vaccination rates, establishing vaccination sites in locations such as airports and bus stations. Students and teachers in affected areas are being encouraged to wear masks and practice diligent hygiene.
Ángel Ivan Soto Mendez, a resident of Guadalajara, shared that he and his family were waiting to receive the measles vaccine, and were already preparing their children to wear masks and use disinfectant at school. “If everyone doesn’t get vaccinated, there are going to be infections everywhere,” he stated.
Regional and Global Context
The situation in Mexico is part of a broader trend in the Americas. Canada lost its measles-free status in , and both the U.S. And Mexico are at risk of facing the same outcome. PAHO reported that in the first three weeks of , 1,031 additional measles cases were confirmed in seven countries across the Americas, a 43-fold increase compared to the same period last year. No deaths have been reported.
The Mexican government has been actively promoting measles vaccination, emphasizing the importance of two vaccine doses for protection. However, the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization during the Trump administration may complicate regional efforts to control the spread of the virus, as PAHO operates under the WHO umbrella.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that can lead to serious complications, particularly in young children and individuals with weakened immune systems. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection and protect public health.
