Peru boosts measles vaccination on borders with Brazil and Bolivia

Peruvian health authorities have ramped up measles vaccination efforts in the Amazonian region of Madre de Dios, a border area shared with Brazil and Bolivia. This intensified campaign is a direct response to a national health alert declared due to a measles outbreak.

Brigades from the Regional Directorate of Health (Diresa) in Madre de Dios are conducting house-to-house visits in communities and agricultural zones. Their primary goal is to immunize minors who have not yet completed their national vaccination schedule. The health post in Iñapari, located on the border with Brazil, is leading the charge in identifying and vaccinating children in both jungle communities and agricultural camps focused on Brazil nut harvesting.

To further bolster prevention, communications personnel from Diresa and the Ministry of Health are disseminating information in tourist agencies, businesses, and transportation hubs. These efforts aim to educate residents and visitors about preventive measures and symptom detection for measles. The Iñapari Health Post is fully stocked with all vaccines from the national immunization scheme, and parents and travelers are urged to check vaccination records and visit the center or mobile brigades for free vaccinations.

Peru declared an epidemiological alert on June 6 due to community transmission and the "high risk of dissemination" of measles. The alert aims to enhance prevention, surveillance, and control actions, with a strong emphasis on vaccination and the timely identification and response to suspected and confirmed cases. The outbreak has been particularly concentrated in the southern department of Puno, bordering Bolivia, which accounts for 96.59% of the 501 confirmed cases reported nationwide across eight regions. There is also a high risk of propagation in Lima, Callao, and several other departments.