The warning we are not listening to
Measles is back. And it is not a discreet return. The numbers speak clearly: more than six thousand confirmed cases last year and we are already at more than a thousand so far in 2026. The majority, girls, boys and young people.
Why is this happening now? The answer is as simple as it is alarming: we are neglecting vaccines. Samuel Ponce de León Rosales, from UNAM, says it bluntly: we do not reach the 95% coverage necessary to stop such a contagious virus.
“This is a preventive and transparent action,” explains the specialist about the notification of cases.
But this goes beyond Mexico. Look at the map: Canada, the United States, Spain… even Armenia and Austria have reestablished what they call endemic transmission. That is, the virus has been on the loose for more than a year in a row.
A problem that was brewing
The Covid-19 pandemic made things worse, yes. But Rosa María Wong Chew, also from UNAM, points out something crucial: the drop in vaccination was already coming before. Add to that the movements that distrust vaccines and you have the perfect storm.
The scientific evidence is compelling: two doses of the MMR vaccine drastically reduce the risk. The most vulnerable people are just those without their complete scheme.
Meanwhile, health systems monitor each suspected case. It’s not panic, it’s prevention. Political theater can distract us with other dramas, but this is one that directly affects our homes, our families.
Measles is reminding us of a basic lesson: when we let down our public health guard, ancient viruses find their opportunity to return to the stage.




