Huge crowds and low vaccination rates raise measles alarms as Pope Leo XIV visits South America
Health authorities in South America are on high alert for measles outbreaks as Pope Leo XIV visits the region, drawing massive crowds. Countries like Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru have intensified surveillance and vaccination efforts to mitigate the risk of virus transmission during these large religious gatherings.
Why it matters
Mass gatherings during a period of low vaccination rates pose a significant public health risk for the resurgence of highly contagious diseases.
Manila Bulletin - Huge crowds and low vaccination rates raise measles alarms as Pope Leo XIV visits South America
Huge crowds and low vaccination rates raise measles alarms as Pope Leo XIV visits South America
Pope Leo XIV arrives to preside over Mass at the grounds of the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, on the fifth day of his twelve-day apostolic journey to South America, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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