Measles Outbreak in Mexico: 12 Deaths and 7,086 Cases
Measles has claimed 12 lives in Mexico, with 11 in Chihuahua (bordering Texas) and one in Sonora. Children aged 0-4 years have the highest infection rate at 8.05 cases per 100,000, followed by those aged 25-29 (512 cases) and 30-34 (419 cases). Chihuahua accounts for 93% of Mexico's 7,086 probable cases. The government has launched the 'Juarez Shield Strategy' for free vaccinations for 6 months to 49-year-olds, vaccinating 42,000 people recently. Mexico's National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) reports concentrated infections in Chihuahua. The government also initiated the 'Rapid Response Plan' to strengthen surveillance and contain transmission. Measles, highly contagious, spreads through airborne transmission and bodily fluids, with an incubation period of 10-14 days. Complications include blindness, encephalitis, and pneumonia, particularly dangerous for children under five and immunocompromised individuals. The WHO reports 10.3 million global cases in 2023, with outbreaks now emerging in the Americas.