Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has issued an urgent public health advisory following confirmation of multiple measles cases in neighboring Guatemala. Health authorities report approximately a dozen confirmed infections in Guatemalan territories adjacent to the Belizean border, specifically identifying the departments of Izabal and Petén.
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor at the Ministry, emphasized the extreme contagious nature of the measles virus and the critical importance of vaccination. “Measles represents one of the most highly contagious viral infections known,” Dr. Beer stated. “Vaccination remains the singular effective protection against this disease.”
The Ministry reports Belize’s current immunization rates remain below the 95% threshold required for robust community protection, creating potential vulnerability to outbreak spread. Health officials are particularly concerned about cross-border transmission due to frequent travel between the two nations.
Belize’s national vaccination protocol recommends the MMR vaccine at twelve months with a booster dose at eighteen months. Older individuals aged ten years and above qualify for the MR vaccine. The Ministry specifically advises travelers to verify their vaccination status and obtain immunization if records are unavailable or uncertain.
Dr. Beer highlighted the particular risk to unvaccinated populations: “The measles virus possesses the demonstrated capacity to locate and infect unvaccinated individuals. This pattern explains the current situation in Guatemala where confirmed cases exclusively involve unvaccinated persons.”
Health authorities have intensified surveillance at border entry points and are implementing public awareness campaigns regarding symptom recognition and prevention measures.