Measles Outbreak in Jalisco, Mexico: Urgent Action Needed as Cases Surge
The Mexican Association of Vaccinology (AMV) has issued a stark warning, calling for “urgent preventive actions” to combat a rapidly escalating measles outbreak in the state of Jalisco.With 829 confirmed cases, Jalisco now accounts for over 56% of all measles diagnoses in mexico this year, and a staggering 39.35% of probable cases – a total of 1,636 individuals currently under investigation.
“Jalisco is currently the state with the highest number of confirmed cases, concentrating an vital part of the active measles outbreak in the country,” the AMV stated in a recent publication. Founded in 2001, the AMV is a non-profit scientific organization comprised of experts in infectious diseases, pediatrics, and public health, dedicated to the advancement of immunization strategies in coordination with federal and state health institutions.
The situation is particularly concerning when viewed in comparison to previous years. While Jalisco recorded 663 measles cases throughout 2025, a dramatic surge occurred in January 2026 alone, with 829 confirmed infections – a 125% increase. “This accelerated increase confirms that the measles outbreak in Jalisco is active and requires urgent prevention actions,” the AMV emphasized.
According to data from the General Directorate of Epidemiology,Jalisco also holds the highest incidence rate of the disease nationwide,standing at 9.23 per 100,000 people. This significantly surpasses the national average of 1.10 and exceeds the rate in Colima, which follows with a rate of 5.83. The incidence rate – a key epidemiological measure – quantifies the speed at which new cases emerge within a population, providing critical insight into the risk and spread of the disease.
Current prevention and control efforts, involving federal, state, and municipal health authorities alongside teams from the University of Guadalajara, appear to be falling short. The outbreak, which began gaining momentum last year, has proven difficult to contain, contrasting sharply with the experience in Chihuahua, where a similar outbreak in 2025 was successfully managed.
In 2025, jalisco ranked second nationally in both confirmed measles cases (663) and probable cases (1,836), with an incidence rate of 7.54. the state’s challenges extend beyond measles, as it also held the second-highest national ranking for both non-severe and severe dengue cases last year. furthermore, Jalisco, alongside Sinaloa, recorded the highest number of deaths – 10 – related to dengue fever.
The state consistently faces critically important health challenges, also ranking among the highest nationally in deaths attributed to heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, and malignant tumors – all leading causes of mortality in Mexico. This pattern suggests systemic issues within Jalisco’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly given its unique status as the only state refusing to integrate its health system with the federal framework.
Why is this happening? The measles outbreak in Jalisco is driven by a combination of factors, including low vaccination rates and challenges within the state’s healthcare system. Jalisco’s refusal to integrate its health system with the federal framework is a key contributing factor, hindering coordinated prevention and response efforts.
Who is affected? The outbreak primarily affects residents of Jalisco, with 829 confirmed cases and 1,636 probable cases as of early 2026. The high incidence rate of 9.23 per 100,000 people indicates widespread risk within the population.
What is being done? Federal, state, and municipal health authorities, along with the University of Guadalajara, are involved in prevention and control
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