Why measles cases have risen 20% worldwide – Firstpost

The number of measles cases is increasing worldwide.

About 10 million people contracted the world’s most contagious disease last year, a 20 percent increase compared to 2022, according to a study.

A decline in vaccination rates is the main cause of an increase in the number of cases.

The study warned that a global target to eradicate measles as an endemic threat by 2030 was “under threat”.

Let’s take a closer look.

Increases in measles cases

According to a joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles worldwide in 2023.

Health authorities said around 107,500 people, including young children, died “unacceptable” deaths from a vaccine-preventable disease.

Last year also saw a 60 percent increase in major measles outbreaks.

The research shows that about 57 countries have reported a major or disruptive outbreak, almost half of which are in Africa. The total number of outbreaks is considerably higher than the 36 in 2022.

Apart from the African region, a significant increase in cases was reported in the regions of the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, the report said.

It is striking that in 2023 the number of deaths from measles also fell by eight percent compared to the previous year. This is because the outbreaks occurred in parts of the world where children had better access to health and nutrition.

Also read:
Why the US and Britain are losing their measles-free status

Decline in vaccination

Global vaccination rates are declining, contributing to an increase in measles infections.

Although the infection is fatal, it can be prevented with two doses of the highly effective measles vaccine. Two doses are 97 percent effective against measles, compared to 93 percent with a single dose.

Over the past 50 years, the disease has been completely eradicated in 82 countries.

But the world is falling short due to a shortage of vaccinations and misinformation.

“Right now, every country in the world has access measles vaccine, so there is no reason why any child should be infected with the disease and no child should die from it measles,” said WHO’s Natasha Crowcroft, a senior technical advisor Measles and Rubella, told reporters.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy has increased as people lost confidence in the importance of routine childhood vaccinations against diseases such as measles and polio.

Because measles is extremely contagious, 95 percent of the population must be fully vaccinated to provide any protection for those who are not, especially small children who cannot receive vaccinations.

According to health organizations, only 74 percent of children worldwide received the necessary second dose of the measles vaccination in 2023, while 83 percent of children received their first dose. Nearly 22 million children received no vaccinations at all.

For four consecutive years, measles vaccine coverage in the United States has fallen significantly short of the federal target, due to a decline in vaccination rates in preschools.

In October, CDC data showed measles vaccination rates among preschoolers dropped to 92.7 percent for the 2023-2024 school year. On November 7, the CDC stated that there had been 16 outbreaks and 266 cases of measles in the US alone in 2024.

In 2021, India had the highest number of ‘zero dose children’ globally, with 2.7 million children missing essential vaccinations due to COVID-19-induced lockdowns that disrupted vaccination programmes.

Although India’s global rankings have improved since then, the country still remains the second highest in unvaccinated children, behind only Nigeria, with 2.1 million children recorded receiving a zero dose in the same year. According to another
WHO report previously publishedIn 2023, 1.6 million children in India did not receive a single dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP) vaccine or the measles-containing vaccine (MCV).

“The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past fifty years. To save even more lives and prevent this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for everyone, regardless of where they live,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

CDC Director Mandy Cohen said, “The measles vaccine is our best defense against the virus, and we must continue to invest in efforts to expand access.”

Measles and its symptoms

Measles is caused by an airborne virus that mainly affects children under the age of five, but can be prevented with two doses of the drug. measles shot.

According to a number of studies, children with weakened immune systems due to malnutrition or other underlying diseases are more susceptible to deaths from measles.

According to the CDC, up to three in a thousand children who contract measles can die due to respiratory and neurological problems.

In addition to the typical symptoms of fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash with red spots, measles can cause long-term health problems, especially in young children and babies.

In addition, the infection can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and blindness. The CDC estimates that one in twenty children with measles will develop pneumonia.

With input from authorities