Authorities from the State of Mexico Health Secretariat are intensifying the measles vaccination campaign with 450 vaccination points across the 125 municipalities, ahead of its closure on February 15. Additionally, starting this Monday, measures are being reinforced in schools, including daily health filters, symptom monitoring, isolation of suspected cases, and the mandatory use of face masks for students and educational staff. The State of Mexico Health Secretariat mentioned in a press release that it aims to prevent infections, detect cases early, and protect the educational community. Since Monday, February 9, educational authorities and school health personnel have begun daily temperature checks, rapid clinical observation, and the isolation of any student showing symptoms such as red rashes on the body, red eyes, cough, or white spots in the mouth. Suspected cases are immediately reported to the local health unit for evaluation and sample collection, and all activities of the health filter are recorded daily in a standardized form that includes student data and contact with parents or guardians. The Secretary of Health, Macarena Montoya Olvera, emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective measure against measles. The best way to prevent measles and other diseases is through vaccination. The campaign, which began a few days ago, features 450 immunization points distributed throughout the state, including sessions on Sundays and from Monday to Thursday, and to date, more than 1.6 million doses have been administered. Recommendations also include maintaining adequate ventilation in classrooms, promoting frequent handwashing, and training school staff to recognize signs of measles, apply isolation protocols, and promptly notify health units. The filters must operate every day in all schools, and coordination with health authorities is emphasized to activate intensified surveillance in case of detecting an outbreak. Parents and guardians are called to take advantage of the final days of the campaign to immunize children aged 6 months to 9 years against measles, rubella, and mumps (MMR), as well as people aged 10 to 49 who do not have a complete vaccination schedule against measles and rubella (MR). Meanwhile, face masks and health filters will remain active in schools, recalling that despite the end of the COVID-19 health emergency, prevention remains key to avoiding new outbreaks. With these measures, the state government seeks to balance the return to classrooms with the protection of the health of students, teaching staff, and their families, reinforcing hygiene habits and surveillance that could become permanent protocols in the face of future viral diseases. As of February 6, the Health Secretariat of the Government of Mexico reports 8,899 cases of measles, from January 1, 2025, to January 9, 2026; however, so far this year, the cumulative confirmed cases of measles are 2,467. The most affected states are Jalisco with 1,432 cases; Chiapas with 250; Nuevo León with 157; Sinaloa with 144; and Mexico City with 138; in the State of Mexico, 56 cases are registered.
