More than 10 million measles cases were reported from around the world last year, marking a 20 percent increase from 2022, according to a report published by health organizations on Nov. 14.
The rise in measles cases was attributed to insufficient vaccine coverage. The report stated that more than 22 million children from around the world missed their first dose of measles vaccine in 2023.
“The number of measles infections are rising around the globe, endangering lives and health,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen said in a statement.
“The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus, and we must continue to invest in efforts to increase access.”
Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes fever, a cough, and a rash all over the body. The WHO stated that 95 percent coverage with two doses of the measles vaccine is needed to prevent outbreaks in a country.
Measles is an airborne disease that spreads when an infected person sneezes or coughs. This disease could cause serious complications, including blindness, ear infections, pneumonia, and even death.
The report stated that 57 countries experienced large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2023 due to global gaps in vaccination coverage, up from 36 countries in the previous year.
All regions were affected except the Americas, with nearly half of all large or disruptive outbreaks occurring in the African region, according to the report.
“To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
The report said that a global goal of eliminating measles by 2030 is “under threat” due to the recent surge in cases. As of last year, 82 countries had achieved or maintained measles elimination, it stated.
The WHO’s Americas region is once again labeled as free of endemic measles after Brazil’s elimination status was reverified this week. The report stated that the WHO’s African, Eastern Mediterranean, European, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific regions have recently seen a “substantial upsurge“ in measles cases.
There were 338 measles cases reported in the United States between January 2020 and March 2024, with 97 cases occurring in the first quarter of 2024. The CDC said this marked a sevenfold increase from the average number of cases reported during the first quarters of 2020–2023.
