Measles Outbreak in Mexico: Cases Surge in Early 2026 & Mask Mandates Return

A measles outbreak is escalating in Mexico, prompting health alerts and preventative measures as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As of February 3, 2026, Mexico has recorded 8,332 confirmed cases of measles, a significant increase from the 6,427 cases reported throughout all of 2025. This surge represents nearly 1,902 new cases detected in just the first few weeks of this year.

The state of Jalisco, a key host city for the upcoming World Cup, is currently the epicenter of the outbreak. Authorities in Jalisco have mandated the use of face masks in schools across the Guadalajara metropolitan area, including the municipalities of Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, El Salto, and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos. This measure, announced by Jalisco’s Secretary of Health, Héctor Raúl Pérez Gómez, will be in effect for a minimum of 30 days as officials attempt to contain the spread of the virus.

Nationally, Mexico leads the Americas in measles cases, accounting for nearly 2,000 of the approximately 2,000 confirmed cases reported across the region this year. Suspected cases in Mexico exceed 5,200. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert earlier this week regarding the spread of measles throughout the Americas, highlighting the concerning rise in cases, particularly within Mexico.

The current outbreak began last year in the northern state of Chihuahua, originating with a child from a Mennonite community who had traveled to a region of Texas experiencing an outbreak. The virus has since spread within Mennonite communities – which have noted rates of vaccine hesitancy – and beyond, representing the largest measles outbreak in Mexico in decades.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Transmission is facilitated in enclosed spaces and through close contact, explaining the rapid spread within school and community settings.

Symptoms of measles typically appear several days after infection and include fever, nasal congestion, eye irritation, and small white spots inside the mouth. A characteristic rash then develops, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body.

The increasing number of measles cases in Mexico and the United States has prompted PAHO’s Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission for Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (RVC) to invite representatives from both countries to a virtual meeting on April 13, 2026. The purpose of this meeting is to review each country’s measles elimination status. The RVC is an independent technical commission that assesses the elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome in PAHO Member States, and evaluates the reestablishment of endemic transmission – defined as uninterrupted measles virus transmission for 12 months or more within a defined geographical area.

In 2025, the United States reported 2,242 confirmed measles cases across 45 jurisdictions. The situation in both countries raises concerns about potentially losing disease-free status as vaccination rates decline across the region. Jalisco accounted for approximately 10 percent of all confirmed cases in Mexico in 2025, with 1,163 confirmed cases and 2,092 suspected cases reported within the state this year alone.

The potential impact of the outbreak extends beyond public health, as it coincides with preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. If active measles cases persist in Mexico into February 2026, the outbreak could continue throughout the duration of the tournament.