GENEVA: More than half the countries around the globe will be at high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year unless urgent preventative measures are taken, the World Health Organization issued a warning.
The resurgence of measles cases in various regions is largely attributed to missed vaccinations during the tumultuous COVID-19 years when routine immunization efforts lagged due to overwhelmed health systems.
Natasha Crowcroft, a Senior Technical Adviser on Measles and Rubella at WHO, emphasized the urgency of addressing immunization gaps to prevent measles from exploiting vulnerabilities in vaccination programs. She cited data indicating that over half of all countries worldwide are poised for outbreaks unless swift action is taken.
Crowcroft urged governments to prioritize protecting children, noting a concerning lack of commitment amid competing priorities such as economic crises and conflicts. Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus primarily affecting young children, can be effectively prevented with two doses of vaccine. Since 2000, more than 50 million deaths have been prevented through vaccination efforts, according to WHO.
Despite significant progress, last year saw a staggering 79 percent increase in measles cases, surpassing 300,000 according to WHO data, which likely represents only a fraction of the actual total. Measles outbreaks have been reported across all WHO regions except the Americas, though Crowcroft cautioned that this region is not immune.
Notably, measles poses higher risks in poorer countries due to fragile health systems, but middle and high-income countries are also susceptible to outbreaks and fatalities. Crowcroft highlighted the experiences of middle-income countries during previous outbreaks and expressed concerns that 2024 could mirror the challenges faced in 2019.
