The Ministry of Health announced on April 16 that emergency teams have been deployed to Juliaca, Puno, in response to a measles outbreak in the region. The intervention is being carried out by the Directorate General for Disaster Risk Management and National Health Defense (Digerd), with health workers conducting door-to-door visits in prioritized areas.
This initiative is important as it aims to control the spread of measles and provide immediate support to affected communities. The ministry said differentiated triage has also been implemented at Carlos Monge Medrano Hospital, where medical professionals are offering care and support for possible cases.
Upon arrival in Juliaca, health brigades coordinated with the San Román Health Network, holding meetings with local authorities and technical teams to organize field interventions. Seven brigades were formed and deployed, consisting of local health personnel reinforced by intervention teams. These groups are carrying out house-to-house sweeps in neighborhoods such as Guadalupe and Clara Victoria.
In addition to case detection, the team is providing public health education about vaccination importance and preventive measures against measles. Technical assistance was also provided for setting up a command post to better coordinate activities on site.
According to current reports, fourteen brigade members delivered 207 consultations on Tuesday, April 14 and 119 consultations on Wednesday, April 15 within Juliaca district. Three medical professionals are also strengthening care for tracer conditions—specific diseases monitored after natural or man-made disasters—at Carlos Monge Medrano Hospital as part of an integrated sectoral response.
The operation involves collaboration between the Ministry of Health’s epidemiology center (CDC Peru), San Román Health Network, and other technical sector teams. The ministry said these efforts reinforce state presence locally while improving readiness against public health risks.
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment “to continue deploying actions in the field to protect the population,” promoting prevention and control measures against measles and other communicable diseases.
