Ministry of Health transfers R$524,000 to contain measles outbreak in municipalities in Amazonas

The Ministry of Health will transfer R$524,000 to reinforce vaccination and contain the transmission of measles in three municipalities in Amazonas. The resources will be allocated to Atalaia do Norte, Benjamin Constant and Tabatinga, in the border region with Peru and Colombia, where cases of the disease have been recorded.

The transfer was made official in a decree published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) this Monday (9). The money will be transferred in a single installment to municipal health funds.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, Amazonas confirmed 21 cases of measles between September 1st and October 26th. The records include people of Peruvian and Brazilian nationality, including indigenous people.

See how much each municipality will receive

The values provided for in the ordinance are:

Tabatinga: R$ 322,135.03;

Benjamin Constant: R$ 124,376.94;

Atalaia do Norte: R$ 77,517.70.

The funds must be used to reinforce vaccination, epidemiological surveillance and actions to interrupt the transmission of the virus. According to the ordinance, the transfer takes into account the disease scenario and the need to intensify prevention measures.

Vaccination was reinforced in the border region

On Saturday (7), Amazonas held the State Measles Vaccination Day D to expand vaccination coverage and facilitate access to immunization.

In the triple border region, the mobilization took place in Tabatinga, Benjamin Constant, Atalaia do Norte and São Paulo de Olivença. The strategy was aimed at people from 6 months of age, regardless of vaccination history.

The action was carried out by the Government of Amazonas, through the Amazonas Health Surveillance Foundation – Dr. Rosemary Costa Pinto (FVS-RCP), in partnership with municipal health departments and institutions linked to indigenous assistance.

According to the Ministry of Health, teams worked in health units, ports, fairs, schools, commercial establishments and communities. Home visits were also carried out, with special attention to indigenous and riverside areas.

Amazonas concentrates measles cases in the country

The Ministry of Health confirmed 65 cases of measles in Brazil in 2026. Of this total, 21 were registered in Amazonas, in municipalities on the border with Peru and Colombia.

Cases in the state were distributed as follows:

Tabatinga: 9;

Benjamin Constant: 6;

São Paulo de Olivença: 4;

Atalaia do Norte: 2.

Brazil has remained without endemic circulation of measles since 2024. To prevent the virus from circulating continuously in the country again, the Ministry of Health maintains actions to search for suspected cases, epidemiological surveillance and vaccination in priority areas.

In 2025, measles vaccination coverage in Amazonas was 89.7% for the first dose and 76% for the second. In the country, the rates were 93.15% and 78.61%, respectively.

Who can get vaccinated

The measles vaccine is available for people aged 12 months to 59 years, according to the recommendations in the national vaccination calendar.

In the triple border region, the strategy was expanded to people from 6 months of age.

Babies aged 6 to 11 months and 29 days receive the so-called zero dose, which does not replace the doses provided for in the routine calendar. From 12 months onwards, vaccination must follow the recommended schedule for each age.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease, transmitted mainly through the air, through droplets and aerosols excreted by infected people.

The main symptoms are high fever, red spots on the body, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis. The disease can cause complications, especially in young children and people at higher risk of worsening.