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Honduras is keeping its avian influenza health emergency in effect after confirming one case in a commercial poultry farm and over 500 cases in wild birds, saying that lifting the emergency could ease biosecurity measures and allow spread to commercial operations.

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.

Honduras confirmed 17 cases of whooping cough by mid-July, nearly triple the six cases recorded in the same period last year, a surge health officials attribute to declining childhood vaccination coverage that has reached only 70% of the national target.

Honduras has recorded 5,064 cases of dengue and 89 severe cases, with the capital city accounting for 24% of infections and teenagers and young adults bearing the heaviest burden; health authorities also report 12 confirmed measles cases and 15 deaths linked to whooping cough, citing low childhood vaccination compliance.

Honduras's immunization director said a rigorous review of three child deaths following vaccination found no scientific evidence of a causal link, attributing the deaths to preexisting medical conditions, and urged parents to keep children's vaccination schedules current.

Arca de Esperanzas, which provides rehabilitation and therapy to people with neurological disabilities, says the Health Ministry has not signed the agreement to release L3.49 million (about $140,000) approved in the 2026 budget, threatening to suspend services for hundreds of families.

Agriculture Minister Moisés Molina announced a six-month health emergency for highly pathogenic avian influenza in backyard poultry, enabling rapid inspections and containment measures across commercial farms and small holdings; the government says chicken and egg production will continue normally.

Honduras's Health Ministry convened national and international specialists with the Pan American Health Organization and UNICEF to strengthen early-warning systems and disease surveillance using a "One Health" approach that links human, animal, and environmental health.

President Nasry Asfura announced that medical brigades will begin Monday in Candelaria, Lempira, and expand to other rural communities, offering consultations and health services to residents who face long distances and high costs to reach hospitals in major cities.

The Social Development Ministry and a nonprofit foundation signed an agreement to provide mobility devices, medical care, early diagnosis, and official registration to people with disabilities across more than 100 vulnerable communities, particularly in rural southern Honduras.

The US Embassy in Tegucigalpa has advised American citizens traveling to or residing in Honduras to ensure vaccinations are current and carry proof of immunization, as regional measles cases have prompted stricter health screening and possible quarantine measures at borders.

Honduras has confirmed 176 human screwworm cases and three deaths — all elderly women — since March, with the parasite now detected in Tegucigalpa, prompting health authorities to urge residents to keep wounds covered.