[Challenges and strategies in the response to the measles outbreak during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico, 25 Years after eliminationDesafios e estratégias na resposta ao surto de sarampo durante a pandemia de COVID-19 no México, 25 anos pós-eliminação].

Abstract

Objective: Identify the challenges that Mexico faced during the measles outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic and describe the interventions to interrupt measles virus circulation.

Methods: Descriptive, retrospective study of actions taken during the measles outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Epidemiological surveillance of febrile exanthematous diseases has been carried out continuously in the country since 1992. This measles outbreak demonstrated the limitations and strengths of the health system with respect to measles control in the context of a pandemic.

Conclusions: A very important factor in controlling the outbreak was to strengthen the training and coordination of rapid response teams belonging to local health districts, states, the national network of government-operated public health laboratories, and the national laboratory supporting epidemiological surveillance (LAVE). On 31 August 2020, after 90 days of active surveillance and reports of negative test results from the network of health units and laboratory units, it was concluded that the country remained free of measles transmission.