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BELMOPAN, Belize, Apr 26, CMC – Belizean health authorities are confirming a case of measles, saying that the 19-year-old resident of the Toledo District had recently traveled to Guatemala.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) said that the person had been preliminarily diagnosed with measles on April 24, and that “all isolation and quarantine recommendations for the patient and known contacts are being followed”.
It said that a ring vaccination exercise and community outreach were immediately started and are ongoing and that the members of the public are being reminded of the growing outbreak of measles in neighbouring Guatemala with 5,100 cases reported since December 2025.
The ministry said it is urging “the public to get vaccinated against measles to protect themselves and their families” adding that vaccination prevents measles and measles complications.
It said that children should receive two doses as part of routine immunization at 12 and 18 months of age and that unvaccinated individuals over 18 months old, should also receive two doses, one month apart.
It said for individuals who received only one dose, an additional booster dose is recommended and that persons unsure of their vaccination status should receive one dose.
Last week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) urged countries to intensify immunisation efforts as part of Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA), amid concern about the increase in measles cases in the region.
In 2024, regional coverage for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine reached 89 per cent for the first dose and 79 per cent for the second, while coverage for the third dose of the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccine reached 87per cent.
Despite this progress, more than 1.4 million children did not receive a single dose of these or other vaccines, PAHO said, raising concern about the increase in measles cases in the region. The Americas were the first region in the world to eliminate measles in 2016; this status was lost in 2018, regained in 2024, and lost again in 2025.
In 2025, 14,767 confirmed cases were reported across 13 countries, nearly 32 times more than in 2024. The trend continues in 2026: as of April 5, more than 15,300 cases have already been reported, exceeding last year’s total.
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