Measles jumps borders in North America with outbreaks in Canada, Mexico, U.S.

2/5/2025 7:52

North America's three biggest measles outbreaks continue to balloon, with more than 2,500 known cases, reported The Associated Press (AP) on Thursday, noting that three people have died in the United States and one in Mexico.



North and South American countries have struggled to maintain the 95 percent measles vaccination rate needed to prevent outbreaks, according to Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Health Organization.



A recent World Health Organization report said measles activity in the Americas region is up elevenfold from the same time last year and that the risk level is "high" compared to the rest of the world's "moderate" level.