A report jointly issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed this year that measles cases exceeded 10.3 million-the sharpest increase since the last year-since vaccination coverage is high in poor and conflict-ridden areas.
Nearly half of the major outbreaks reported came from the African region, where deaths from measles increased by 37%. However, the complete lack of adequate immunization coverage has been cited as the current challenge and gap, especially in strained health systems or the increasing hesitancy towards vaccines.
Every country globally has access to the measles vaccine, and there is no justification for any child to suffer from this preventable disease,” notes Natasha Crowcroft, Senior Technical Adviser on Measles and Rubella at the WHO. Measles is an extremely contagious viral infection transmitted by air which primarily attacks children younger than five years old. But it has absolutely been prevented by two doses of the measles vaccine.
Although global deaths from measles have dropped by 8% in 2023 to 107,500 deaths the report insists that this figure is still unacceptable; with it comes the need for stronger global vaccination efforts.
Another factor that had contributed to the increased cases was a lack of access of vaccination to children. In 2023, more than 22 million children missed receiving the measles vaccine first dose. Vaccine hesitancy had increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and added to the disruption of routine childhood vaccinations.
The report draws attention to an alarming number of outbreaks; as many as 57 countries witnessed drastic revocation of vaccination, close to 60% more than it was the previous year. Measles cases rose dramatically in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific. The WHO and CDC continue urging the world to join in effort strengthening vaccination campaigns and protect those lost lives from further outbreaks and preventable deaths.
