Argentina witnesses surging measles cases in 2023: Reports indicate 26 diagnoses this year
In 2025, Argentina is grappling with a measles outbreak, a highly contagious viral disease that affects humans and is preventable through vaccination. As of now, there have been 26 confirmed cases, with the majority in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires Province. This outbreak is of concern for health authorities due to the rapid speed of infections and the complexity of epidemiological links.
The first outbreak occurred in Palermo, but the virus has since spread to Greater Buenos Aires and San Luis. Experts warn that the decrease in vaccination coverage in recent years, partly due to pandemic-related factors, has opened a gap that allows measles to reintroduce itself.
According to Dr. Silvia González Ayala, president of the Argentine Society of Pediatric Infectiology, the reemergence of measles in the Americas in 2025 is 11 times higher than cases recorded in all of 2024. In Argentina, elimination of measles was declared in 2016, but the causes for reintroduction persist and are linked to the number of vaccinated people. To avoid the reemergence of measles, it's necessary that at least 95 out of every 100 people in a community are vaccinated.
It's crucial to enforce the measles vaccination scheme according to current recommendations in establishments with educational, sporting, recreational, and social activities. Ongoing epidemiological surveillance aims to identify contacts, cut transmission chains, and prevent the virus from spreading to new areas.
Recent research shows that four cases were imported, six have direct links to these imported cases, and the remaining six are under analysis. The virus's high contagion capacity, amplified in urban environments with high population density, presents a significant challenge for outbreak control. The port authorities have confirmed cases in several communes, indicating community transmission.
Geographical expansion is another concern. Eight of the 14 detected cases in the Greater Buenos Aires conurbation have a direct connection with the infections that occurred in Buenos Aires City. One case was a person with a history of travel to Thailand. The virus typing discarded any relationship with the rest of the local cases, suggesting a new introduction of the virus into the country.
Measles is a viral eruptive-febrile disease, characterized by high fever, red spots on the skin, nasal secretion, conjunctivitis, and cough. It can lead to complications such as pneumonia, convulsions, meningoencephalitis, and blindness. Prevention relies on two doses of the triple viral vaccine, which protects against measles, rubella, and mumps. Authorities emphasize the need to review the vaccination card, especially in areas where the virus is circulating.
The measles vaccine has prevented over 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023, according to the World Health Organization. Despite being eliminated from Argentina in 2000, occasional cases have occurred due to isolated incidents or imported contagions. The 2025 outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining collective immunization to prevent measles from reestablishing itself as a persistent threat.
- In light of the 2025 measles outbreak in Argentina, it's essential to revisit the importance of sports facilities enforcing vaccination schemes to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
- A study on creatine supplementation might prove beneficial in boosting the immune system, helping individuals better combat infectious diseases like measles, given its role in promoting overall health and wellness.
- The growing concern over the measles outbreak has led mental health professionals in Buenos Aires to develop support groups for those affected by the virus and their families, addressing the potential stress and anxiety caused by this medical condition.
- To combat the outbreak's rapid spread, Buenos Aires authorities are employing science-based strategies, actively tracing contacts, isolating carriers, and implementing informed medical-condition guidance.
- As part of a holistic approach to maintaining a healthy community, local healthcare providers in Buenos Aires are exploring the potential benefits of CBD, hoping it might aid in alleviating the symptoms and complications associated with measles, as well as providing relief for anxious individuals amidst the outbreak.
