Health authorities in Colombia remain on alert after a measles case was detected in Cartagena in early May. It involved a 25-year-old man who became the sixth confirmed infection in Colombia during 2026. He is currently under epidemiological investigation to determine the exact source of infection.
The information was provided by the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health (INS), which confirmed that the patient remains under medical follow-up while surveillance protocols and close-contact tracing are being carried out.
“The patient is in good general health condition, and local health authorities, with the support of the INS, are monitoring his close contacts in order to interrupt possible chains of transmission,” the authorities said in a statement.
In Colombia, cases are linked to travelers from abroad
The confirmation of this infection comes amid growing concern over the reappearance of measles in Colombia, which had been declared in 2014 by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as a country free of endemic transmission of the disease.
Measles, the Ministry of Health and the INS have explained, is an extremely transmissible viral infection caused by a virus of the Morbillivirus genus, belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. Its capacity for spread is very high, with a basic reproduction number estimated between 12 and 18 secondary infections for each sick person.
Transmission occurs through contact with respiratory droplets expelled when coughing, sneezing, or speaking, as well as viral particles that remain suspended in the air and can enter through the upper respiratory tract or the conjunctiva.
So far this year, Colombian authorities have detected several imported cases associated with travelers coming from abroad. Of the six confirmed so far, four are linked to people arriving from Mexico and one more has an origin in the United States. The case detected in Cartagena is the only one whose source of infection is still under investigation.
The Ministry of Health had issued a preventive health alert since February due to the increase in measles cases in different countries across the continent. Colombian authorities especially strengthened vaccination campaigns at airports, terminals, and areas with high international traveler flow.
Bogotá implemented special measures at El Dorado Airport and at land terminals due to the temporary low availability of vaccines and the risk of importation of new cases. The capital had previously confirmed three imported infections during the first quarter of the year.
Health authorities have reiterated that vaccination remains the main tool for preventing outbreaks. In Colombia, the triple viral vaccine protects against measles, rubella, and mumps, and is part of the free national immunization schedule.
PAHO warns the Americas
Not only in Colombia have alerts been raised over this virus. Countries such as Panama, Guatemala, Peru, and Spain have also activated different protocols in order to prevent the spread of the virus and keep this health threat under control.
On November 10, 2025, PAHO made an urgent call for regional action following the loss of measles elimination status in the Americas. This situation represented a significant setback in public health progress after sustained endemic transmission was confirmed in Canada, where the virus circulated continuously for more than twelve months.
Given this scenario, PAHO urged countries in the region to strengthen vaccination, reinforce epidemiological surveillance, and ensure timely responses to outbreaks, emphasizing that although the setback is concerning, recovery of elimination status is achievable through sustained regional commitment and coordinated actions.
On February 3, 2026, PAHO issued a new epidemiological alert for the Americas region due to the marked increase in measles cases recorded during 2025 and the first weeks of 2026.
This alert emphasizes the urgency of strengthening surveillance, intensifying routine vaccination, implementing active case finding at community and institutional levels, and ensuring rapid responses to suspected cases, given the growing risk associated with immunity gaps and the persistence of outbreaks in several countries in the region.