Sodiq Ojuroungbe
A new report from the World Health Organisation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that global measles cases surged by 20 per cent in 2023, driven by stagnating vaccination coverage and increasing outbreaks in several regions, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected countries.
The report stated that the number of reported measles cases rose from 8.6 million in 2022 to 10.3 million in 2023.
According to the data, this increase occurred despite measles vaccination efforts that have saved an estimated 60 million lives since 2000.
One of the key findings of the report is the stagnation in the coverage of the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1), which remained at 83 per cent in 2023, unchanged from the previous year.
The report said about 83 per cent of children got their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023, and only 74 per cent got their recommended second dose.
The data added that 57 countries experienced outbreaks in 2023, revealing gaps in vaccine coverage.
The report noted that it requires at least 95 per cent vaccine coverage with two doses of measles or rubella vaccine to prevent outbreaks.
“The continuing trend of measles outbreaks in low-income countries as well as high middle-income countries is a stark reminder of the ongoing need to address gaps in coverage everywhere,” the report noted.
“Apart from the African region, a substantial upsurge in cases was reported in the Eastern Mediterranean, European, Southeast Asian and Western Pacific regions,” the report said.
However, WHO and CDC warned that without urgent action, the rising number of cases threatens to undo decades of progress in the fight against this deadly disease.
The health groups lamented that about 107,500 people, mostly young children, died in an “unacceptable” death toll from a disease that is preventable through vaccination.
According to WHO, measles is so highly contagious that 95 per cent of the community needs to be fully vaccinated to offer some protection to the unvaccinated, including children too young to be vaccinated.
Both the WHO and CDC stressed that the global community must intensify efforts to close the immunity gaps and prevent further outbreaks.
They emphasised that the report underscores the need for stronger surveillance systems to track measles cases, as well as more targeted vaccination campaigns to reach every child with the recommended two doses of MCV.
The agencies called for a renewed commitment to measles elimination, particularly through the “Big Catch-Up” campaign, which aims to vaccinate children who missed routine immunization during the pandemic.
The organisations also stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening routine immunisation services to prevent future outbreaks.
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