By Raul Cortes
(Reuters) -The Pan American Health Organization said on Thursday it is seeking collaboration with neighboring countries to fight vaccine hesitancy for yellow fever and measles among populations in parts of the region this year.
The organization’s director, Jarbas Barbosa, made the announcement the same day U.S. researchers warned the country is at a critical juncture in measles’ return, a quarter century after it was declared eliminated there, due to several outbreaks.
“Measles is one of the most contagious illnesses in the world,” Barbosa said. “Countries have faced difficulties maintaining the recommended 95% MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine coverage, leaving us susceptible to imported cases,” he added.
Health experts say 95% of the population must be inoculated to provide community protection for those unable to receive the vaccine, such as babies under 6 months old.
PAHO has identified localized measles outbreaks in six an countries in the region, with 2,313 reported cases so far this year, a considerable increase from the 215 cases for the same period last year. Three deaths have been confirmed, and one more is under investigation.
Since the start of 2025, the U.S. has registered a dozen outbreaks and at least 800 measles cases, including 624 infections and two deaths in Texas, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yellow fever cases have also risen this year on the continent with 189 cases in four countries and 74 deaths, according to PAHO.
A week ago, the Colombian government declared a sanitary emergency given the increase in cases, with 74 confirmed infections and 34 deaths.
“PAHO is working with countries to combat vaccine hesitancy, strengthen routine immunization programs, and broaden access to vaccines so we can face these cases,” said Barbosa.
Vaccine misinformation has fueled hesitancy in recent years, particularly in the United States, where false claims linking vaccines to autism gained traction. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long promoted such views, contrary to scientific evidence.
(Reporting by Raul Cortez Fernandez; Writing by Rafael Escalera Montoto; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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