File photo showing a measles vaccine being prepared by a nurse before administration in Cochabamba, Bolivia. EFE/Jorge Ábrego
Washington, Aug 8 (EFE) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced Saturday that it has issued an epidemiological alert urging countries in the Americas to strengthen vaccination efforts in response to a measles outbreak, after cases tripled compared to last year.
PAHO warned in a statement that the Americas are experiencing the highest number of measles cases in more than two decades.
So far this year, 47,500 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in sixteen countries, with 44 deaths in three countries.
This figure represents more than triple the number of cases recorded in all of 2015, when there were 15,000 cases in fifteen countries and 32 deaths in three countries.
PAHO detailed that 95% of the confirmed cases are concentrated in Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, and Peru.
According to an assessment by the organization, the public health risk associated with measles in the Americas is classified as “very high.”
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warns of increased mortality, the emergence of cases in new areas due to international travel and mass gatherings, and the impact on populations without access to health services.
Measles, one of the world’s most contagious diseases, is transmitted through the air or via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or expels them.
Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and a rash. In some cases, it can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, or even death.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease and stop its spread.
