On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed grave concern about the rapid proliferation of measles, revealing that over 306,000 cases were documented worldwide last year, marking a staggering 79 percent surge from 2022.
Natasha Crowcroft, WHO’s technical advisor on measles and rubella, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “We in the measles community are deeply troubled.”
Measles, a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus, poses serious health risks, particularly to children, often leading to severe complications and fatalities.
Crowcroft underscored the likelihood of substantial underreporting of measles cases, suggesting that the actual figures were likely much higher.
To ascertain more precise statistics, the UN health agency annually models case numbers.
The most recent estimate projected 9.2 million cases and 136,216 measles-related deaths in 2022, indicating a significant increase from the preceding year.
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While such modeling for the subsequent year had not been conducted yet, Crowcroft noted a 43 percent rise in deaths in 2022 compared to the previous year.
Given the escalating case counts, she anticipated a further increase in fatalities in 2023.
Crowcroft, speaking to journalists in Geneva via video link from Cairo, warned of the daunting challenges ahead this year.
She highlighted that more than half of all countries globally are currently deemed at high risk of measles outbreaks by year-end.
One of the primary drivers behind the surge in cases is declining immunization coverage.
Maintaining at least 95 percent vaccination coverage among children is crucial to prevent outbreaks, yet global rates have dropped to 83 percent.
The distribution of cases and deaths reveals significant disparities, with 92 percent of all measles-related child fatalities occurring in less than a quarter of the global population, primarily in very low-income countries.
