Public Health

The president of Congress's health committee said lawmakers could consider requiring vaccination records for children if measles cases and low immunization coverage persist, while authorities urge parents to get children vaccinated free at public health facilities.

Hundreds of families in San Pedro Sula neighborhoods live alongside severely polluted rivers and streams choked with sewage and garbage, exposing residents to health hazards and environmental risks.

San Pedro Sula has confirmed 243 dengue cases in 2026 with no deaths reported, though health officials say seven recent patients show warning signs and two cases have been classified as severe dengue.

Honduran health authorities expressed concern that more pets are being vaccinated than children in Honduras, reiterating that protecting the population, especially minors, must be the priority.

Under a January memorandum with the government, Fundesur Honduras has distributed $6 million in medications across six departments, reaching over 122,000 Hondurans at public health facilities.

Merchants and residents report that raw sewage overflow, crumbling streets, and years of neglect in a busy commercial sector of San Pedro Sula are driving away customers, damaging vehicles, and creating public-health hazards.

Hospital San Felipe in Tegucigalpa is conducting 30 surgeries per day and has completed 2,200 procedures so far this year, according to hospital director Edwin Cruz.

President Nasry Asfura signed an agreement with Spanish firm Dominion to build a 15,000-square-meter hospital in Puerto Cortés with 140 beds and 60 emergency spaces, financed by Denmark's government and a German financial institution, to serve the region's growing population and reduce travel for specialized care.

Honduras's Education Ministry is analyzing whether to temporarily suspend in-person classes in Cofradía, Cortés, after 12 confirmed measles cases emerged in the northern region, pending recommendations from health officials.

Three cardiologists have quit Honduras's public health institute (IHSS) citing low wages and lack of permanent appointments, leaving the system with only one cardiologist when officials say five to seven are needed in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula alone.

Honduras's health system reports a surge in venomous snake bite cases, with Hospital Escuela treating 64 patients this year across eight departments; physicians warn that delays in seeking antivenom treatment can cause permanent organ damage and amputation.

From late March through early May 2026, Honduras paid an average of L65,000 (about $2,600) per operation to private clinics to reduce a backlog of more than 13,700 patients waiting for surgery in public hospitals, spending nearly L10 million in the first eight weeks.

President Nasry Asfura signed an agreement with AMEX Healthcare, backed by Austrian concessional funds, to upgrade oncology and diagnostic imaging services at San Pedro Sula's Hospital Mario Catarino Rivas in 2026–2027, including a linear accelerator to expand cancer treatment access.

Hospital General San Felipe completed more than 1,800 major surgeries in eight weeks, reducing the surgical waiting list and treating patients who had been waiting for care.

Honduras's Health Ministry extended its vaccination and deworming campaign through June to boost immunization coverage nationwide, as the country reports five confirmed measles cases.

Honduras has logged 3,823 suspected dengue cases through early June, with 66 hospitalizations and children under 15 the hardest-hit group, as health authorities urge residents to eliminate mosquito breeding sites during the rainy season.

Health authorities in the capital have set up vaccination clinics at shopping malls, supermarkets, and the national university to increase access to flu, tetanus, and measles shots, responding to two imported measles cases confirmed in Honduras.

The Health Ministry is urging Hondurans to visit their nearest vaccination site on May 30–31 to complete their immunization schedules, reminding them to bring their vaccination cards.

At a PAHO regional webinar, Honduras Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Midence highlighted the country's progress in reducing preventable maternal deaths through emergency obstetric coordination, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and expanded contraceptive access.

The Health Ministry has extended its national vaccination and deworming campaign because coverage remains below the 95% target, with free vaccines available at over 1,800 health facilities, mobile clinics, and door-to-door teams, with particular emphasis on children under five.