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The measles outbreak has reached a new level in Mexico due to the increase in confirmed cases recorded in recent hours. For this reason, the mandatory use of face masks has been imposed, something that has not been seen since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020. In which states must masks be worn? Will students in CDMX be required to wear masks in schools? Here is what is known.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can have fatal consequences, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently, Mexico, the United States, and Canada are the countries with the most cases in the Americas; it was the Pan American Health Organization that shared this information and specified that 78% of the new cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals.
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It is for this reason that the country's authorities are asking the population to get vaccinated, especially urging them to pay special attention to children under nine years of age receiving the indicated dose (since the most affected age groups are 1 to 4 years and 5 to 9 years), so that they are protected and thus avoid complications. Likewise, a call has been made for adults to also get vaccinated, as they are also at risk.
READ MORE: Measles vaccination modules in CDMX: LIST of subway stations and points to get vaccinated without an appointment
Given the increase in cases, it was decided that the use of masks would be mandatory because measles is spread through invisible droplets that come from the nose and mouth of sick people, either through direct contact or through the air.
¿Qué estados declararon uso OBLIGATORIO de cubrebocas por sarampión en México?
Jalisco is the state where the mandatory use of face masks was declared starting today, February 5th. The state's Ministry of Health said in a statement that "the mandatory use of face masks" was agreed upon in educational centers in seven municipalities of the capital, Guadalajara, for the next 30 days.
Faced with these measures, authorities in the entity did not provide figures on the number of infections that led them to make this decision, but the measure certainly caused alarm, as Jalisco became the first state in the Mexican Republic to resume the use of face masks, which were used so extensively to protect against and reduce coronavirus infections in 2020 and subsequent years.
It is important to mention that in Jalisco and Aguascalientes, classes were recently suspended in 15 schools following the appearance of measles cases.
¿CDMX declara uso OBLIGATORIO de cubrebocas por sarampión?
No, CDMX has not declared the use of face masks mandatory in schools, enclosed spaces, or public areas of any kind; the measures taken so far by the capital's authorities have been the installation of vaccination modules in different parts of the city.
¿Cuántos casos de sarampión hay en México?
According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, dated February 4th, there are currently a total of 8,411 cases in Mexico, which are found mainly in:
- Jalisco
- Chiapas
- Ciudad de México
- Sinaloa
- Baja California.
*These entities are the ones with the highest number of accumulated probable cases.
¿Qué es el sarampión y qué síntomas tiene?
The IMSS notes that measles is a disease caused by a virus that can be contracted at any age (even in adulthood) if a person did not have it in childhood.
- El primer síntoma es la aparición de fiebre de hasta 40°C (la cual dura por lo menos tres días)
- Manchas pequeñas dentro de la boca
- Erupción en la piel, que comienza en la cara y se extiende al cuerpo
- Tos
- Flujo nasal
- Conjuntivitis (ojos rojos)
- En pacientes con un sistema de defensa debilitado, puede desarrollarse neumonía.
¿Dónde me puedo aplicar la vacuna contra el sarampión en CDMX?
You can get the measles vaccine at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), and at Health Centers; check their location HERE.
¿Dónde me puedo aplicar la vacuna contra el sarampión en Jalisco?
Likewise, you can get the measles vaccine at the IMSS, ISSSTE, and Health Centers of that entity.
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