Why the US, Mexico and Guatemala may lose their measles-free status

What the report says

International health experts are meeting in Washington, DC, this week to decide whether the United States, Mexico and Guatemala should keep their measles elimination status, according to Al Jazeera. The review is being carried out by the Pan American Health Organization’s Regional Monitoring and Re-Verification Commission, an independent panel that advises PAHO on whether measles transmission has remained under control in member states.

Al Jazeera reported that the commission is assessing epidemiological data from 2025 and the first half of 2026, along with reports from all 35 PAHO member states. A country can lose its elimination designation if the same measles strain spreads continuously for at least 12 months. The article said the US has had sustained outbreaks since January 2025, while Mexico has also reported prolonged transmission. Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia are also under review, and Canada already lost its status last year.

The broader context is a sharp measles resurgence across the Americas, with PAHO reporting 57,666 confirmed cases in 17 countries and territories between January and October 2026. The Americas were first declared free of endemic measles transmission in 2016 after years of vaccination campaigns. The final recommendation from the commission will go to PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa, with an announcement expected early next week.

Al Jazeera noted that losing elimination status would not create immediate penalties, but it would signal a setback for public health systems and could increase pressure for vaccination, surveillance and outbreak response efforts.