Honduras investigates highly suspicious measles case as infections rise

Honduras is grappling with a rising number of measles cases, now confirmed at 10 with four new infections reported over the weekend. The Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI), Odalis García, stated that authorities are actively investigating a highly suspicious new case.

As part of epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing for confirmed patients has been initiated, and vaccination drives have been intensified in the municipality of Cofradía in Cortés, the epicenter of the investigation. Seven individuals who had contact with positive cases are under close monitoring. A young girl, a classmate of a confirmed patient, is considered highly suspicious and awaiting diagnosis, which is expected to confirm her as part of the ongoing transmission chain.

García expressed concern over preliminary results from the National Vaccination Campaign, which concluded on June 30. The coverage rate reached approximately 70%, falling short of the established goal and leaving a significant number of children unvaccinated. She urged the public to visit health facilities to complete immunization schedules, emphasizing the availability of safe and free vaccines against 27 diseases at over 1,800 health facilities and the Honduran Social Security Institute.

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La invitación a la población hondureña es buscar los servicios de vacunación. Tenemos vacunas seguras y gratuitas en más de 1,800 establecimientos de salud de la Secretaría de Salud y también en el Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social, donde se protege a la población contra 27 enfermedades.