NEW YORK, Nov 20, (Agencies): A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has highlighted a significant surge in measles cases, deaths, and outbreaks between 2021 and 2022. Published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Friday (Nov. 17), the research indicates an 18% increase in the estimated number of measles cases, rising from approximately 7.8 million in 2021 to 9.2 million in 2022. Global measles deaths also saw a substantial rise, increasing by 43% from 95,000 in 2021 to 136,200 in 2022. Furthermore, the number of countries experiencing "large or disruptive outbreaks" of measles surged from 22 in 2021 to 37 in 2022, representing a 68% increase.

John Vertefeuille, director of the CDC's Global Immunization Division, expressed concern over the alarming rise in measles outbreaks and deaths, attributing it to declining vaccination rates over recent years. He emphasized the interconnectedness of global health, stating that measles cases anywhere pose a risk to countries and communities with under-vaccinated populations. Vertefeuille stressed the urgency of targeted efforts to prevent the spread of measles disease and associated fatalities.

The WHO and UNICEF monitor the annual administration of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine doses globally, comparing the data with the total population of children within the recommended age group for vaccination. Between 2000 and 2019, vaccine coverage with the first MMR dose increased from 72% to 86% worldwide. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, coverage dropped to 83% in 2020 and further decreased to 81% in 2021. Global coverage rebounded slightly to 83% in 2022, but low-income countries continued to experience declining vaccination rates.