Measles cases surge globally, with 10.3 million infections expected in 2023

According to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , there will be approximately 10.3 million measles cases worldwide in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022. Inadequate global immunization coverage is the main reason for the surge in cases.

Measles is preventable with two doses of measles vaccine, but more than 22 million children missed the first dose in 2023, the WHO said. Globally, an estimated 83% of children received their first dose of measles vaccine last year, while only 74% received the recommended second dose.

The vaccination rate must reach more than 95%

WHO says that to prevent measles outbreaks and protect populations from one of the most contagious viruses in the world, countries and communities need to achieve measles vaccination rates of 95% or higher.

“Over the past 50 years, the measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We must invest in vaccinating everyone, wherever they are in the world.”

Due to gaps in global vaccination coverage, in 2023, a total of 57 countries experienced large-scale or severe measles outbreaks, affecting all regions except the Americas, an increase of nearly 60% compared with 36 countries last year.

Cases have increased significantly in the WHO’s Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, with nearly half of the massive and devastating outbreaks occurring in Africa.

Global efforts to eliminate measles hit by setback

New data shows that more than 100,000 people, mostly children under the age of five, will die from measles in 2023. Although this is an 8% decrease compared to last year, too many children are still dying from this preventable disease.

The slight drop in deaths is mainly because the surge in cases has occurred in countries and regions where measles mortality rates among children are lower, where children are generally better nourished and have better access to health care.

By the end of 2023, 82 countries around the world have achieved measles elimination or maintained a measles-free status. However, with the surge in measles cases and the spread of epidemics, the global measles elimination goal established by the 2030 Immunization Agenda is under threat. This week, Brazil was once again confirmed as having eliminated measles, making the WHO Region of the Americas once again a region that has eliminated measles epidemics. Except for the African region, all WHO regions have at least one country that has achieved measles elimination.

WHO stresses that countries and their partners, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, and those in fragile, conflict-affected or threat-prone settings, must take urgent and targeted measures to ensure all children complete two doses of measles vaccination.