Peru measles cases surge to 2,543 in 2026, vaccination gaps drive outbreak

Peru has seen a dramatic rise in measles cases from 4 in 2025 to 2,543 confirmed in 2026, with Puno and Madre de Dios hardest hit. The outbreak is driven by vaccination gaps leaving hundreds of thousands of children unprotected, making Peru one of the most affected countries in the Americas. The situation signals a regional public health risk and underscores the consequences of declining immunization coverage.