Global Measles Cases have surged worldwide, rising by 20 percent from 2022 to 2023 after a pandemic-driven decline in vaccination rates, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Cases jumped from 8.6 million in 2022 to over 10.3 million in 2023, with 57 countries experiencing large or disruptive outbreaks, up from 36 the previous year.
Despite the spike in cases, deaths from measles decreased by 8 percent, dropping from 116,800 in 2022 to 107,500 in 2023. Most deaths occur among children under the age of five, especially in countries where access to healthcare and improved nutrition offer some protection, even as new cases rise.
Vaccination Rates Drop, Prompting WHO Concerns
The WHO stressed that vaccination remains the most effective tool to combat the resurgence of measles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global vaccination rate for the first dose of the measles vaccine fell to 81 percent, the lowest level since 2008. While there was a slight recovery to 83 percent in 2022, this rate has since stagnated, leaving a substantial portion of the global population vulnerable to the highly contagious virus.
Over 22 million children missed their first measles vaccine dose in 2023, the WHO report indicates, and while 83 percent of children received their first dose, only 74 percent received the second, which is crucial for full immunity.
WHO Calls for Urgent Action to Increase Immunization
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, emphasized the importance of measles vaccination. The measles vaccine, he said, has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years. To protect vulnerable populations and prevent outbreaks, he stressed the need to invest in immunization for everyone, regardless of location.
CDC Recommendations on Global Measles Cases Vaccination in the U.S.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in two doses for full protection. The first dose is recommended between 12 and 15 months, and the second between four and six years. Teenagers and adults who have not been vaccinated are also encouraged to receive the two-dose regimen.
According to the CDC, the two-dose MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective at preventing measles and 88 percent effective at preventing mumps. The WHO has set a goal that at least 95 percent of a country’s population should receive the full two-dose regimen to prevent outbreaks.
The rise in global measles cases serves as a warning about the consequences of gaps in vaccination coverage. Both the WHO and CDC urge countries and communities to prioritize immunization efforts to safeguard public health, prevent the resurgence of measles, and protect the most vulnerable populations worldwide.
