Measles deaths fell dramatically since 2000, but health experts warn the disease is resurging worldwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 47 per cent rise in measles cases in Europe and Central Asia last year, largely due to declining vaccination rates. Global gains in reducing infections and deaths now show early signs of reversal.
In 2024, measles killed approximately 95,000 people, mostly children under five, down from 780,000 in 2000. The WHO stressed that every preventable death from measles remains unacceptable. Vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000.
Rising Cases Highlight Gaps
Worldwide, measles infections rose to an estimated 11 million last year, about 800,000 more than pre-pandemic levels. WHO reported over 120,000 cases in Europe and Central Asia, the highest in more than 25 years.
Major outbreaks occurred in 59 countries last year, nearly triple the number in 2021. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that measles exploits any weakness in collective immunity.
Vaccine refusal drives many outbreaks. Measles spreads so easily that at least 95 per cent of the population must receive vaccines to achieve herd immunity. Globally, 84 per cent of children received the first dose, while 76 per cent received the second, representing two million more children than the previous year.
Still, more than 30 million children remained under-protected in 2024, mostly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Even countries with high overall vaccination rates can face outbreaks if unvaccinated pockets exist.
Urgent Calls for Action
WHO emphasized that measles often resurges first when vaccination rates drop, exposing flaws in global health systems.
Children who survive measles face higher risks of pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis, which can cause brain swelling and permanent damage.
The organization called for increased funding and renewed global efforts to eliminate measles. Dr Tedros stressed that vaccinating every child in every community can prevent outbreaks, save lives, and eradicate the disease nationally (WHO, 2025).
