The Deputy Director of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health (SSA), Alfredo Ojeda Garmendia, confirmed that ongoing surveillance is being maintained to track, isolate, and prevent the spread of any imported measles cases detected in Baja California Sur.
This comes after eight cases of measles were reported in Insurgentes City three months ago, a situation that raised alarms leading to the activation of a health cordon and the prevention of an epidemiological problem.
According to SSA data, no patients with this disease have been reported in Southern California for 15 years.
However, the epidemiologist noted that Mexico is experiencing a national measles outbreak, and 23 states have currently identified imported infections, including Baja California Sur, associated with people from the state of Chihuahua.
“It has been important to detect new cases, which is very possible, in any of the five municipalities. Throughout the country, we must remember that we are unfortunately experiencing a national measles outbreak,” the official reiterated.
The situation reported in June in Comondú was similar. According to the Epidemiology Subdirectorate, the identified infections were among a family who had arrived by road from Chihuahua to work in agricultural fields in Ciudad Insurgentes.
“More than 10 weeks have passed since the last case was identified. Permanent measures are in place, and measles surveillance will be an activity that has always been carried out in our state and throughout the country, and which has been strengthened this year,” said Alfredo Garmendia.
In this scenario, in addition to the surveillance maintained in workplaces or schools, the deputy director emphasized that the most effective preventive measure is the vaccination of vulnerable groups, primarily children under five years of age.
“As long as we ensure that minors are vaccinated and have a complete schedule with two doses, regardless of whether there is an infected person, the risk of infecting others would be very low,” he emphasized.
Symptoms related to measles include high fever, dry cough, runny nose, general malaise, fatigue, and, most characteristically, a skin rash that spreads to the trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
If the SSA detects a possible case, laboratory tests are performed. If the result is positive, the patient is sent to home isolation and is monitored for three weeks to rule out other infections.
Source: oem
