WASHINGTON, CMC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Tuesday said there has been a sustained increase in measles cases both globally and across the Americas as the world prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 184,489 measles cases were reported in 155 member states between January 1 and May 13 this year, of which 100,239, or 54.3 per cent, had been confirmed.
PAHO said that in the Americas, 20,521 measles cases and 25 deaths were confirmed in 16 countries and one territory between epidemiological weeks one and 20 of 2026.
“This represents a fourfold increase compared with the 5,123 cases reported during the same period in 2025 and has already surpassed the total number of cases recorded throughout all of last year.” Mexico has confirmed 10,920 cases and 13 deaths so far in 2026, while Guatemala has reported 6,209 cases and 12 deaths.
Canada has reported 1,018 cases, while the United States has recorded 1,952.
Peru has reported 301 confirmed cases, while other countries in the region, including Bolivia, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Uruguay, have also reported cases linked to....
