CONAVE Warns Medical Units of Measles Cases

On Apr. 9, 2024, the Ministry of Health's National Committee for Epidemiological Surveillance (CONAVE) issued a new alert to all medical facilities at first, second, and third level medical units, in response to the identification of imported cases of measles. The aim is to prevent the reintroduction of the virus and ensure timely diagnosis.?

The CONAVE’s alert urges both public and private medical facilities to ensure they are fulfilling the required actions for epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of suspected cases of measles or rubella, as reported by Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA).?

According to the SSA, measles, a highly contagious viral disease caused by the Paramyxoviridae family virus belonging to the Morbillivirus genus, spreads through respiratory secretions. Transmission occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and droplets of saliva containing the virus enter the respiratory tract of unvaccinated individuals.

The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), released in November 2023, revealed that global measles cases surged by 18% to approximately 9 million, and deaths soared by 43% to 136,000 in 2022 compared to the previous year. The increase in cases can be attributed to the decline in national vaccination rates. These rates dropped from an average of 92% in 2019 to 91% in 2022, as reported by the WHO. “We must restore the use of existing vaccines to prevent resurgences of diseases we previously thought were under control, like measles,” said Rodrigo Romero, Coordinator, Mexican Association of Vaccinology to MBN.

In Mexico, during 2024, a total of 859 probable cases of measles or rubella have been reported, including four confirmed cases of measles, as reported by the SSA. Of the four cases, one was verified as imported, while the other three are also suspected to be imported. On March 14, 2024, the General Directorate of Epidemiology (DGE) of the SSA identified that the imported case of measles in Mexico City was directly linked to international travel, as reported by MBN.

Measles has no cure, but most people recover with rest, fluids, and acetaminophen, as reported by the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFCDCP). However, for individuals without measles immunity following exposure to the virus, two protective measures exist, according to Mayo Clinic. Firstly, post-exposure vaccination, given within 72 hours, offers defense, often resulting in milder symptoms if infection occurs. Secondly, immune serum globulin, if administered within six days of exposure, can prevent measles or reduce symptom severity, especially in pregnant women, infants, and immunocompromised individuals.