The São Paulo State Health Department confirmed on Saturday (13/12) the second measles case recorded in the state in 2025. The case occurred in the city of São Paulo and involves a 27-year-old unvaccinated man with a recent history of international travel, where he is believed to have contracted the virus. He received medical care, did not develop severe complications, and has already been discharged, according to health authorities.
This Content Is Only For Subscribers
To unlock this content, subscribe to INTERLIRA Reports.
First Case
The first measles case registered in the state this year occurred in April, also in the city of São Paulo. The patient was a 31-year-old man who had been vaccinated against the disease, did not require hospitalization, and fully recovered. At the time, the Health Department reported that the origin of the infection could not be determined.
No Panic
The confirmation of a second measles case in São Paulo in 2025 raises an alert but should not cause panic, according to infectious disease specialist Cristiano Gamba, head of Infectious Diseases at Hospital Samaritano Paulista and a member of the Hospital Infection Control Service at Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual. He notes that Brazil has historically maintained strong measles vaccination coverage, but the decline in immunization rates in recent years requires renewed attention. Gamba emphasizes that measles is highly transmissible and can infect up to 90% of unprotected individuals who are exposed to the virus.
Warning Signs
The main warning signs of measles include high fever, respiratory symptoms such as cough, and the appearance of red skin rashes. Special attention should be given to flu-like symptoms following international travel. People returning from abroad who develop such symptoms are advised to wear a mask and monitor their condition. If rashes appear alongside eye irritation suggestive of conjunctivitis and intense malaise, seeking medical care while wearing a mask is essential to ensure proper diagnosis and containment.
Cases in Brazil
According to the Ministry of Health, as of December 14, Brazil had confirmed 38 measles cases nationwide, all imported or epidemiologically linked to imported cases—meaning the infections originated outside the country. The largest outbreak occurred in Tocantins, which accounted for 25 cases linked to the return of unvaccinated Brazilians from Bolivia. Additional cases were recorded in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, the Federal District, Rio Grande do Sul, Maranhão, and Mato Grosso, mostly among unvaccinated individuals. These cases do not compromise Brazil’s status as free from endemic measles circulation, a condition certified by the World Health Organization since 2024.
Sources: A Folha de SP.
