Washington DC, Feb. 5 -- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, has issued an epidemiological alert highlighting a significant surge in measles cases throughout the Americas region during 2025 and the early part of 2026.

In its statement released on Wednesday, PAHO stressed the urgent need for member states to bolster routine surveillance and immunisation programmes. "The sharp increase in measles cases in the Americas Region during 2025 and early 2026 is a warning sign that requires immediate and coordinated action by Member States," the organisation said.

According to the report, the Americas recorded 1,031 confirmed measles cases in just the first three weeks of 2026. For the full yea...