The Ministry of Health, through the National Committee for Epidemiological Surveillance, has issued an alert regarding the increase in cases of RACE TOS in the country. This call to action is aimed at guaranteeing the monitoring of real and potential cases through an effective notification system.
Epidemiological Monitoring and Vaccination Decreased from the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare was focused on generating mitigation measures for the effects of the disease. Mandatory vaccination systems were diminished due to confinement, and hospital centers’ approach to the pandemic led to a decrease in epidemiological monitoring and vaccination for other diseases. As a result, the notification of probable and confirmed cases of RACE TOS between 2020 and 2023 was reduced. This reduction in care levels in all health centers made it challenging to measure the incidence of the disease efficiently during that period.
According to Conve’s statement, RACE TOS had an average incidence of 900 cases per year between 2016 and 2019. However, since the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, epidemiological surveillance decreased as a general disease.
Incidence of RACE TOS in Latin America and Mexico
As of 2023, the notification of RACE TOS cases rebounded from hospital epidemiological surveillance centers, with a record of 188 cases, representing an incidence of 0.14 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2024, the incidence increased to 0.34 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with 463 confirmed patients, showing an increase of over 200 people diagnosed with RACE TOS during the year.
In Latin America, the presence of RACE TOS has been elevated during 2024, affecting countries like the United States, Brazil, and Colombia, which had a high incidence rate of the disease. The United States reported 35,435 confirmed cases with 10 deaths, Brazil had 973 probable and 240 confirmed cases, and Colombia had 1,475 probable and 64 confirmed cases.
Given the increase in notification of probable cases and the confirmation of the incidence of RACE TOS in Latin America, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) alerted member states to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and attention to citizenship, especially children under 5 years.
During the first 7 weeks of 2025, Conve received the notification of 460 probable cases and 120 confirmed cases nationwide, reaching an incidence of 0.08 per 100,000 inhabitants. This alert has been reported in 21 states, as Colima, Chiapas, Michoacán, Nayarit, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas have not reported cases.
Conve’s statement aims to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and control the potential of the disease, mainly in regions where it has already reached lethality. The notice also requires the activation of “standardized procedures for epidemiological surveillance of vaccination-preventable diseases.” The mandatory notification of all probable cases has been established, as well as their exhaustive monitoring until classification. Public and private hospital centers are indicated to activate the relevant epidemiological and vaccination measures to reduce infection possibilities when cases are present.
Moreover, the diffusion of the epidemiological alert is crucial so that 100% of contacts with probable cases can be monitored. In addition to being applied, preventive measures are at the hands of citizens, such as washing hands, covering oneself when coughing, avoiding close contact with affected people, and complying with the vaccination program in children.