The number of measles infections worldwide increased by 20% between 2022 and 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US health agency CDC reported on Thursday.
The estimated number of cases globally was 10.3 million in 2023. Almost 110,000 people died, most of them children under 5 years, which was about 8% less than the previous year, the health agencies said.
Larger outbreaks occurred in countries where children were better nourished and could cope with the disease better and where there was better healthcare, they reported.
The health authorities said that one of the world’s most contagious diseases could be prevented with two doses of vaccine.
Globally, 83% of children received a first dose, but only 74% a second. If 95% of children in every country, region and group are vaccinated, outbreaks could be prevented, the agencies said.
“Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated. According to WHO, around 57 million deaths were prevented due to vaccinations between the years 2000 and 2020.
“To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live,” Tedros added.
A total of 57 countries reported outbreaks in 2023, almost half of them in Africa, both the WHO and CDC report.
Children miss their vaccinations when families are fleeing violence and conflict. The number of conflicts and displaced people worldwide has reportedly been growing for years.