The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced this Tuesday: America officially loses measles-free statusIt’s a health achievement the continent has achieved twice, but it’s now under threat because of major outbreaks in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Argentina.
in a dialogue with QRA program hosted by. Pablo Caruso in bravo tvscience journalist no rubber He warned of the seriousness of his health deterioration. PAHO announced yesterday that it has lost its measles-free continent status. America was the first continent to achieve that status twice, but this time all alerts were raised, especially because of very important outbreaks in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and also because there was an outbreak in Argentina. He noted that Canada already has about 5,000 registered cases.
Mr Baer stressed that measles is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease, but that it is thought to be under control thanks to vaccination. It is one of the most contagious diseases in existence. 1 person can infect 18 people. The virus is transmitted through the air and can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and even death. Although it is preventable with a vaccine, many young pediatricians were unable to treat cases because the virus had not been circulating for years, he explained.
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Measles has been eliminated, but not eradicated from the continent. This means that while there may have been imported cases, there was no sustained indigenous transmission. However, the decline in vaccination rates in recent years, as well as the growth of anti-vaccination movements in some countries, have created the conditions for a resurgence in vaccinations.
According to data from PAHO and WHO, community coverage of the triple virus vaccine (which protects against measles, rubella, and mumps) must exceed 95% to avoid outbreaks. Levels are below 85% in several countries in the region, leaving large populations vulnerable.
Argentina’s Ministry of Health recently confirmed the detection of an isolated case and warned that “the risk of reintroduction and transmission of the measles virus is high” amid a rise in the disease globally. Medical professionals are more than concerned, Baer added. We are talking about diseases that are preventable with vaccines that are available and proven to be safe and effective. We can’t afford to go back.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that the number of measles cases worldwide has increased by almost 80% in the last year, with more than 300,000 reported cases in 2024, stressing that vaccination remains the most effective means of avoiding death and severe complications. The return of measles to the United States is not only a health threat, but also a wake-up call about the need to rebuild trust in science and vaccines at a time when misinformation can spread as quickly as the virus.
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