The Guatemala Ministry of Health reports 30,040 total confirmed measles cases from the beginning of the year through July 24.
The confirmed cases are broken down as follows: 7,830 laboratory confirmed, 3,394 confirmed by epidemiological link and 18,816 confirmed by clinical criteria.
29 measles related deaths were reported (0.1% case fatality rate).
After the peak in weeks 15 and 16, cases have been steadily declining. The trend is downward, although the outbreak remains active.
Young adults aged 15 to 39 account for 63 percent of the confirmed cases, and infants under 1 year old remain the highest risk group. Approximately 1 in 11 confirmed patients was hospitalized.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through the air via droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. A person with measles can infect up to 18 unvaccinated people in the same room. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after the infected person has left.
Measles is especially dangerous for infants under 1 year old , immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women. Complications include pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), permanent hearing loss, blindness, and, in some cases, death. While there is no specific treatment for the virus, the measles vaccine is free, safe, and highly effective, and is the only proven way to prevent the disease.
Nearly 1.5 million doses administered between the outbreak response and the regular vaccination schedule, as of June 29, 2026.