Measles Outbreak in Mexico City: 26 New Cases Reported This Week
Mexico City, April 25, 2026 – The number of new measles cases continues to rise in Mexico City, with 26 new cases reported this week, an increase of 11 from last week. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the capital to 468 since the beginning of the year. The Federal Health Secretariat (Ssa) reported 893 accumulated cases since the outbreak began in August 2025.
National Vaccination Week Launched to Combat Outbreak
In response to the growing numbers, the Mexico City government launched the National Vaccination Week 2026, themed “Vaccinating is Love,” which will run until May 2. The campaign aims to complete basic immunization schedules for the population. Head of Government, Clara Brugada Molina, emphasized that vaccination is the most effective prevention tool and is crucial for controlling the current measles outbreak.
As of April 15, authorities reported that 3.9 million people under 49 years old have been vaccinated between 2025 and this year. A campaign is also being prepared to encourage the millions of visitors expected for the 2026 World Cup to get vaccinated against measles.
Cases Nearly Triple from Last Year, ESAVI Incidents Monitored
The current number of cases is almost triple the 166 cases recorded during the same period in 2025. While these cases do not necessarily imply a causal relationship with the vaccine, they are of epidemiological relevance. According to the Ssa Epidemiological Report, Mexico City has recorded 478 cases of Alleged Events Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI) as of April 11. ESAVI refers to any health situation, such as a sign, illness, or abnormal laboratory finding, that occurs unfavorably after vaccination.
Mexico City Remains a Hotspot for Measles
Mexico City continues to be the fourth entity with the most accumulated measles cases, following Jalisco, Chihuahua (where the outbreak originated), and Chiapas. However, it ranks second in new cases this week, just behind Jalisco, another measles hotspot.
Understanding Measles: Symptoms and Transmission
Measles is a disease caused by a virus that, like COVID-19, is transmitted through droplets spread by an infected person when speaking, coughing, or sneezing. The incubation period for the virus is 10 to 14 days. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, burning and redness in the eyes, and headache. These are followed by a rash of flat, red spots that appear all over the body, a characteristic symptom of the disease.
International Spread and World Cup Concerns
Originating from neighboring Canada and the United States, this epidemic poses a potential new outbreak risk with the arrival of visitors from these countries, which are also hosts of the upcoming World Cup.
Source: https://oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/metropoli/sarampion-en-cdmx-26-casos-nuevos-esta-semana-29673206
