Officials said global outbreaks are accelerating as millions of children remain unimmunized after years of disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Measles remains one of the most contagious respiratory viruses,”said Dr Kate O'Brien, Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO.
“One person can infect up to 18 other people. Many people think that measles is not serious, but it is and can be fatal. “One in five infected children ends up in the hospital.”
Last year, around 11 million people around the world were infected, almost 800,000 more than in the pre-pandemic period. Most deaths occurred in children under five years old, and about 80 percent occurred in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.
“But no child has to suffer the consequences of measles,” Dr. O'Brien stressed. “Two doses of vaccine provide 95 percent protection. The tragedy is that children are unprotected because the system does not reach them.”
Outbreaks have tripled since 2021
Measles outbreaks continue to increase sharply. In 2024, 59 countries experienced large or disruptive outbreaks (almost three times more than in 2021) and a quarter of them had previously eliminated measles.
Only 84 percent of children worldwide received their first dose of the measles vaccine last year, but only 76 percent received the crucial second dose, leaving up to 30 million children unprotected. Three-quarters of them were in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, many of them in conflict-affected or highly mobile communities.
“Measles does not respect borders,“said Diana Chang-Blanc, Head of the WHO Essential Immunization Programme.”A country is only protected when all children, everywhere, are fully immunized.“
Why are cases increasing?
According to the WHO, three factors are driving the increase:
Pandemic era throwbackas healthcare workers were diverted to the COVID-19 response.
A large number of children without dosesnow concentrated in fragile and conflictive environments
Weak routine vaccination systemseven in otherwise strong health systems
Vaccine misinformation and limited access
Dr. O'Brien also addressed misinformation about vaccines, saying false claims, especially online, undermine trust, but noted that access gaps, not hesitancy, remain the biggest barrier to stopping measles.
“The biggest barrier is access, not hesitancy,” he said. “Parents around the world want the best for their children. What they need is reliable information and a health system that can reach them.“
Still, he called on political, community and religious leaders to “share accurate, evidence-based information,” noting that trust is “the beginning, middle and end of successful vaccination programs.”
An opportunity to correct course
More than 11 million children have already been vaccinated through the global “Big Catch-Up” campaign, which will continue until 2025.
But the WHO said countries need stronger surveillance, a faster response to outbreaks and renewed political commitment to meet the goals of the 2030 Immunization Agenda.
