Over Half of the World at High Measles Risk: WHO

Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning on Tuesday, cautioning that more than half of the countries around the world could face high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of 2024 without urgent preventative measures.

The rise in measles cases across most regions has been attributed mainly to missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when health systems were overwhelmed and routine vaccinations for preventable diseases fell behind.

Natasha Crowcroft, Senior Technical Adviser on Measles and Rubella at WHO, emphasized the urgency of filling immunization gaps with vaccines to prevent measles from exploiting vulnerabilities in health systems. She highlighted that data indicates more than half of all countries worldwide are expected to be at risk of outbreaks by the end of the year.

Crowcroft called for immediate action to protect children, noting a “lack of commitment” by governments amid competing issues like economic crises and conflicts.

Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus, primarily affects children under five years old. It can be prevented by two doses of measles vaccine, and over 50 million deaths have been averted since 2000, according to WHO.

Measles cases surged by 79% last year, surpassing 300,000 cases globally, although this is believed to be only a fraction of the actual total.

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While outbreaks have been reported in all WHO regions except the Americas, Crowcroft warned that further outbreaks were expected.

Measles death rates are disproportionately higher in poorer countries due to weaker health systems, but outbreaks and deaths also pose a risk in middle and high-income countries.

“We had many measles outbreaks around the world, and middle-income countries really suffered. And we’re worried that 2024 is going to look like 2019,” Crowcroft expressed concerns.

The WHO’s warning underscores the urgent need for concerted global efforts to strengthen immunization programs and prevent measles outbreaks worldwide.