The World Health Organization (WHO) voiced alarm Tuesday at the rapid spread of measles, with more than 306,000 cases reported worldwide last year — a 79-percent increase from 2022.
The World Health Organization voiced alarm Tuesday at the rapid spread of measles, with more than 306,000 cases reported worldwide last year — a 79-percent increase from 2022.
She emphasized, however, that measles cases are usually significantly underreported, suggesting that the actual figure is likely much higher.
To obtain more precise statistics, the UN health agency employs modeling techniques annually. Its most recent estimate suggested there were 9.2 million cases and 136,216 measles-related deaths in 2022.
Although such modeling for the previous year has not been completed yet, Crowcroft highlighted that 2022 had already experienced a 43-percent increase in deaths compared to the preceding year.
Given the ballooning case numbers, “we would anticipate an increase in deaths in 2023 as well”, she told journalists in Geneva, via video-link from Cairo.
“This year is going to be very challenging.”
She cautioned that over half of all countries worldwide are currently considered to be at high risk of measles outbreaks by the year’s end.
Approximately 142 million children are believed to be vulnerable to contracting the illness.
Measles, primarily affecting children, is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Its most severe complications include blindness, brain swelling, diarrhea, and severe respiratory infections.
Crowcroft highlighted that a significant contributor to the increasing numbers is the decline in immunization coverage.
To prevent outbreaks, a minimum of 95 percent of children in a community must receive full vaccination against the disease. However, global vaccination rates have declined to 83 percent.
Significant disparities exist in the distribution of measles cases, particularly concerning fatalities.
Crowcroft highlighted that 92 percent of all children who succumb to measles reside in regions comprising less than a quarter of the global population, primarily in very low-income countries.