Global measles cases drop 71% in 24 years on improved vaccination coverage, WHO says

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By Mariam Sunny

(Reuters) -Global measles cases fell 71% to 11 million in the years spanning 2000 to 2024, driven by improved vaccination coverage, the World Health Organization said in a report on Friday.

Measles vaccination has prevented nearly 59 million deaths globally, with the number dropping nearly 88% to 95,000 over the 24-year period, according to the report.

Last year did see a resurgence in measles, with estimated cases rising 8%, compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Measles-related deaths, however, fell 11% during that period, reflecting a higher number of infections in middle-income countries with a lower fatality ratio, the WHO said.

“Measles is the world’s most contagious virus, and these data show once again how it will exploit any gap in our collective defences against it,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.

Measles is often the first disease to see a resurgence when there is a drop in vaccination coverage, the agency said, adding that growing outbreaks expose weaknesses in immunization programmes and healthcare systems.

“Even small drops in vaccine coverage can trigger outbreaks, like a fire alarm going off when smoke is detected,” said Kate O’Brien, director of the Department of Immunization at the WHO.

She warned that similar gaps are “almost certainly likely” for other vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough and polio.

In 2024, 59 countries saw large or disruptive measles outbreaks, nearly three times that in 2021 and the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO said, adding that there was a resurgence even in high-income countries that had once eliminated it.

Canada lost its measles elimination status this month after failing to curb a year-long outbreak.

The U.S. and Mexico also reported significant outbreaks this year, with thousands of cases and a few deaths.

The agency warned that deep funding cuts to the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network and country immunization programs could widen immunity gaps and drive further outbreaks in the coming year.

The WHO scaled back its work and halved its management team after its top donor, the United States, announced its departure in January.

Last year, 84% of children worldwide received their first dose of measles vaccine, slightly below pre-pandemic levels, and 76% got a second, the report said.

Measles is highly preventable when countries reach 95% coverage with two doses, which are 97% effective.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Anil D’Silva)