Measles vaccination urged in Honduras and Peru amid rising cases

In Honduras, physician Mario Noé Villafranca called for stronger measles prevention, emphasizing the MMR vaccine’s two‑dose schedule (first dose at 12 months, second between 18 months and four years) which reaches up to 99 % efficacy. He advised completing the immunisation series, maintaining hand hygiene and using N95 masks for symptomatic individuals, and urged older adults and those uncertain of their vaccination history to seek verification.

In Peru’s Junín region, infectious‑disease specialist Óscar Vera Romero warned that a single measles case can infect up to 18 contacts. He described classic symptoms – high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, white spots in the mouth and a spreading rash – and stressed that vaccination, especially the two‑dose regimen at 12 and 18 months, is the primary defence. He also recommended hand‑washing, mask use, social distancing at gatherings and vaccination at least 15 days before travel to affected areas.