PAHO recommends action on measles ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

As countries across the Americas prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other mass gatherings, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging health authorities to strengthen measles surveillance, vaccination, and rapid response measures amid ongoing outbreaks in the Region.

In an Epidemiological Alert issued on May 29, 2026 PAHO recommends that countries review their performance in measles and rubella surveillance and vaccination coverage to identify areas at highest risk and implement preventive actions. The Organization warns that increasing measles transmission and heightened international travel create favourable conditions for the spread of the disease during large international events.

“Specifically, and in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as other mass gathering events, countries should increase the sensitivity of their surveillance systems through the implementation of active case-finding to document the absence of measles and rubella cases and to provide information and vaccination services to travellers,” PAHO stated in the alert.

To reduce the risk of international spread during this event, PAHO recommends that countries advise travellers aged six months and older who cannot provide proof of vaccination with two doses or immunity to receive a dose of measles-rubella vaccine, preferably two weeks before travelling to areas where measles or rubella transmission has been documented.

The Organization also recommends that countries provide travellers with information on the signs and symptoms of measles and rubella before departure, including fever, rash, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes.

During travel, PAHO recommends that countries advise travellers who develop symptoms consistent with measles or rubella to seek immediate medical care, wear a medical facemask, avoid close contact with others, refrain from visiting public places for seven days following the onset of rash, and follow measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

Upon return, countries should encourage travellers who suspect they may have contracted measles or rubella to contact a healthcare provider and inform health professionals about their recent travel history.

PAHO has also called on countries to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in high-risk areas, including border regions, airports, ports, and locations hosting major international events. The alert recommends enhancing active case-finding, ensuring rapid investigation of suspected cases, maintaining trained rapid response teams, and strengthening coordination for international contact tracing and outbreak response when necessary.

The alert comes amid a sustained increase in measles cases both globally and across the Americas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 184,489 measles cases were reported in 155 Member States between January 1 and May 13, 2026, of which 100,239 (54.3%) were confirmed.

The WHO South-East Asia Region accounted for 29% of reported cases, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region with 21%, while the African and Americas regions each represented 19% of the global total.

In the Americas, 20,521 measles cases and 25 deaths were confirmed in 16 countries and one territory between epidemiological weeks 1 and 20 of 2026. This represents a fourfold increase compared with the 5,123 cases reported during the same period in 2025 and has already surpassed the total number of cases recorded throughout all of last year.

PAHO said the majority of reported cases have occurred among unvaccinated individuals or people whose vaccination status was unknown.