PAHO Outlines 2025 Health Advances and Ongoing Risks

The Americas made advances in disease surveillance, vaccination, emergency response, and health system strengthening in 2025, reports the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). However, it also warns that access gaps, mental health pressures, and climate-related risks continue to challenge public health systems.

“Looking ahead to 2026, PAHO reaffirms its commitment to leaving no one behind,” says Jarbas Barboba, Director, PAHO, in a year-end message. Health, he adds, is a foundation for development, security, economic stability, and social resilience. The organization says this commitment will be reflected in its Strategic Plan 2026–2031, approved by member states in September, with measurable targets including lower maternal mortality, reduced suicide rates, and the elimination of selected communicable diseases.

PAHO’s assessment reflects a year marked by recovery efforts and persistent structural gaps. In 2025, PAHO’s epidemiological intelligence teams analyzed over 1.8 million health signals, identifying 128 new public health events and issuing early alerts related to threats such as avian influenza A(H5N1), yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, oropouche, and other respiratory viruses. The alerts supported national responses focused on laboratory capacity, vector control, and community surveillance.

In Colombia, PAHO-supported training in epizootic surveillance enabled authorities to identify a yellow fever outbreak after the deaths of three primates, allowing containment before transmission reached urban areas. Similar surveillance strengthening efforts were reported across the region as countries reinforced preparedness for health emergencies.

Progress was also reported under the regional initiative to eliminate over 30 diseases and related conditions by 2030. Brazil eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while Suriname was certified malaria-free. Barbados, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands requested verification of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and Chile requested verification for the elimination of leprosy. Bolivia and Brazil were certified free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination, and nine countries strengthened actions under the Trachoma Elimination Initiative, now in its second year with support from the Canadian government.

Vaccination coverage showed uneven recovery. The Americas lost measles elimination status following a prolonged outbreak in Canada, although countries expanded catch-up campaigns and maintained milestones such as 31 consecutive years without polio. PAHO reports improvements in coverage for measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B, but says that over 1.4 million children missed routine immunizations in 2024. The region continues to lead globally in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, with 76% coverage among girls under age 15. Cuba became the last country in the region to introduce HPV vaccination in 2025. PAHO reiterated that reaching the global 90% coverage target is essential to eliminating cervical cancer.

Emergency response remained a priority after Hurricane Melissa tested health system resilience in the Caribbean. PAHO deployed technical teams and more than 23 metric t of supplies to Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, including 16 emergency medical teams. A new Emergency Operations Center was opened in Barbados to coordinate preparedness and response across the Caribbean.

Efforts to increase regional health self-sufficiency advanced through vaccine production and pooled procurement. Argentina and Brazil expanded mRNA vaccine manufacturing capacity, while PAHO’s Revolving Funds delivered more than 200 million doses and expanded joint procurement of diagnostics, treatments, and telehealth kits. Argentina began producing the pneumococcal PCV20 vaccine, and a nine-valent HPV vaccine became available regionwide in 2025. Brazil also signed an agreement with the Revolving Funds to modernize vaccine supply. PAHO introduced a High-Cost Medicines Policy to improve access to therapies for rare and chronic diseases.

Mental health was highlighted as a growing concern. PAHO launched a regional suicide prevention initiative after reporting a 17% increase in suicide mortality since 2000, making the Americas the only region with a sustained rise. Mexico joined the initiative in 2025, updating its National Suicide Prevention Program with technical assistance from PAHO and the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative focuses on strengthening national strategies, expanding community-based mental health services, and reducing stigma through public awareness campaigns. PAHO also partnered with the Organization of American States (OAS) on the first Inter-American Mental Health Week and released an online course to strengthen mental health care for children and adolescents in primary care settings.

Noncommunicable diseases continued to drive mortality trends. Over 10,000 primary care facilities now implement the HEARTS program for hypertension and cardiovascular risk management. PAHO reported that nine countries are intensifying efforts to address overweight and obesity, which affect 67.5% of adults and 37.6% of children and adolescents in the Americas.

Digital transformation supported several initiatives. Through the Pan American Digital Health Route, developed with the Inter-American Development Bank, 20 countries advanced the use of AI, telehealth, and interoperable systems. In Peru, PAHO and the Ministry of Health piloted the “Vacuna Offline” application in border regions with limited connectivity, enabling vaccination data to be recorded without internet access and synchronized later. PAHO reported a 30% reduction in registration time compared with paper records and said the tool could inform similar deployments across the region.

PAHO said expanded collaboration with international partners, including governments, development banks and global health organizations, amplified the reach of these initiatives. Together with the Strategic Plan 2026–2031, the organization said these efforts are intended to address health system fragmentation, strengthen primary care and advance measurable health outcomes across the Americas.