Health concerns rise in Yucatán Peninsula with snake bites and measles

Health authorities in the Yucatán Peninsula are monitoring two distinct epidemiological concerns: a rise in snake bites in Yucatán and an active measles outbreak in Quintana Roo.

In Yucatán, snake bite incidents increased by 47.9% during 2026. According to the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (Sinave), cumulative cases rose from 48 to 71 by August 15. Of these, 20 cases were attributed to rattlesnakes, two to coral snakes, and 49 were classified as “other snakes,” which accounts for 69% of the total. Rattlesnake bites saw an 11.1% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Meanwhile, Quintana Roo remains the primary focus of a measles outbreak in the region. During the surveillance week of August 20 to August 27, 11 new cases were diagnosed, all affecting children between the ages of 5 and 11. This brings the cumulative total for Quintana Roo to 346 cases for the year, contributing to a peninsula-wide total of 401 diagnoses. While transmission appears contained in neighboring Yucatán and Campeche, the chain of transmission remains active in Quintana Roo.