Measles Deaths Increased By 43 Percent Worldwide: WHO

According to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of global cases of measles deaths has increased by 43 percent from 2021-22 after low measles vaccination rates for several years. 

Key points from the CDC and WHO reports:

• According to CDC and WHO reports, there were large-scale measles outbreaks in 37 countries in 2022, while the number of such countries was 22 in 2021.
• According to WHO report, the countries facing measles outbreak are mainly: 
  • One  in the European region,
  • Two in south-east Asia,
  • Six in the eastern Mediterranean and
  • 28 countries are in the African region.
• According to Jan Vertfeuille, director of CDC's Global Immunization Division, the measles outbreak and the increase in deaths are shocking.
• This is not unexpected given the decline in vaccination rates over the past few years.
• Measles cases are at risk in countries where vaccination rates are low.
• Immediate efforts are important to prevent cases of death from measles.

Vaccines to prevent measles:

• A two-dose vaccine regimen is administered for measles prevention. According to WHO, its global vaccination coverage has increased marginally in 2022 compared to 2021, but 3.3 crore children remained deprived of the vaccine dose. About 2.2 crore children did not receive the first dose, while 1.1 crore children did not receive the second dose.

Risk of death from measles highest in low-income countries:

• In low-income countries, where the risk of death from measles is highest, vaccination rates are only 66 percent, according to CDC and WHO reports.
• More than half of the children who will miss their first dose of measles vaccine in 2022 live in just 10 countries: Angola, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Measles Disease:

• Measles is a preventable, serious, highly contagious, and acute febrile disease.
• It is caused by viruses of the Paramyxovirus family.
• It is an airborne disease in which the virus first attacks the respiratory system and then spreads throughout the body.
• Measles symptoms can develop about 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus and usually last about 10 to 14 days.
• Some common symptoms of measles include high fever, runny nose, cough and small white spots that may develop on the inside of the cheeks in the initial days. Measles complications may involve blindness, severe respiratory issues such as pneumonia, and ear infections.
• Measles spreads easily from person to person and even slight contact with an active case can infect a susceptible person. Therefore, all precautions should be taken to contain its spread especially among people with weak immunity such as infants, children, pregnant women or patients with weak immunity.