The state of Jalisco in Mexico has declared a health alert and made it mandatory for schools to enforce the use of face masks due to a measles outbreak in the state capital, which is 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 regarding 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, reporting 1,163 confirmed cases and 2,092 suspected cases.
The measles outbreak in Mexico originated last year in the northern state of Chihuahua after a Mennonite child fell ill during a visit to a region in Texas with a measles outbreak. The outbreak escalated in Mennonite communities with high rates of vaccine hesitancy, spreading across Mexico to become the country’s most significant outbreak in decades.
Experts warn of increased risks of outbreaks during the upcoming World Cup due to declining vaccination rates. Mauricio Rodriguez, a microbiology professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, highlighted that Mexico’s rising measles cases are attributed to incomplete immunization schedules in many communities, increasing the risk of outbreaks as countries like the United States, Mexico, and Canada host visitors from around the world.
To combat the outbreak, health authorities in Jalisco announced the mandatory use of masks in schools in specific neighborhoods in Guadalajara for the next month. This move comes as medical groups urged the local government to take swift action, marking Mexico’s first public health mandate since the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent outbreaks have also led to the suspension of classes in 15 schools in Jalisco and Aguascalientes.
Efforts to control the infection include students and teachers in Guadalajara wearing masks to classes and long lines forming at vaccination centers set up in government buildings. The public has been encouraged to get vaccinated against measles, which can be prevented with two doses of the vaccine, with vaccination sites established at airports and bus stations.
PAHO reported a significant increase in measles cases in the Americas, with no deaths reported in the first three weeks of this year. The Mexican government, along with the U.S. and Canada, is working to control the outbreak to prevent losing their measles-free status. Canada lost its measles-free status in November, prompting intensified vaccination efforts in the region.