On the 24th, Bolivian President Arce announced that the country has entered a national health emergency due to measles.
He stated that this decision is "to firmly protect the health and lives of the Bolivian people."
He pointed out that entering a national health emergency can strengthen the coordination and response capabilities among regional governments and social organizations. Under this framework, the government will launch an emergency response plan to block the spread of the virus through multi-departmental action and large-scale vaccination campaigns.
He called on the public to cooperate with health authorities and follow the vaccination plans.
Meanwhile, on the 24th, Bolivia's Minister of Health and Sports, Castro, stated that the country has 500,000 doses of the measles vaccine, which will be provided free of charge at health centers nationwide and during mass vaccination campaigns.
The latest report from the Bolivian health department shows that there are currently 60 confirmed cases of measles in the country, most of which are in the eastern Santa Cruz department.
According to the World Health Organization, measles is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus. Measles infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a full-body rash. It can cause severe complications and even death. Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure.