The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that global immunization efforts have reduced measles-related deaths by 88 per cent between 2000 and 2024, saving nearly 59 million lives worldwide.
However, WHO noted on Friday that an estimated 95,000 people, mostly children under five, died from measles in 2024, stressing that every death from a preventable disease remains unacceptable.
The organization highlighted that measles infections are surging globally, with an estimated 11 million cases in 2024—almost 800,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019—reflecting persistent gaps in vaccination coverage.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus described measles as the world’s most contagious virus, warning that it exploits any weaknesses in collective immunization efforts. “Measles does not respect borders, but full vaccination of every child prevents outbreaks, saves lives, and can eliminate the disease entirely from nations,” he said, emphasizing the importance of vaccination equity.
Dr Tedros reported that measles cases surged 86 per cent in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 47 per cent in Europe, and 42 per cent in South-East Asia in 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Conversely, the African Region saw a 40 per cent decline in cases and a 50 per cent reduction in deaths, largely due to improved immunization coverage and public health interventions.
“While mortality may be lower in high-income countries, infected individuals still risk blindness, pneumonia, and encephalitis, resulting in lifelong complications despite healthcare advances,” he warned, calling for continued vigilance.
WHO estimates show that in 2024, 84 per cent of children received the first measles vaccine dose, but only 76 per cent received the second dose, leaving millions under-protected. This represents a slight improvement from 2023, with two million additional children immunized, but the 95 per cent threshold for measles elimination remains unmet.
Dr Tedros said more than 30 million children remain under-protected, mostly in African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, often in fragile, conflict-affected, or underserved communities, creating gaps that fuel ongoing outbreaks.
“The Immunization Agenda 2030 Mid-Term Review shows measles resurges first when vaccination coverage drops, highlighting weaknesses in immunization systems that threaten progress toward elimination goals,” he said.
In 2024, 59 countries reported large or disruptive outbreaks, the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic. “All regions except the Americas experienced at least one major outbreak in 2024, though the Americas faced renewed outbreaks in 2025, showing the fragility of elimination efforts globally,” Dr Tedros added.
He highlighted improvements in surveillance, noting that more than 760 laboratories in the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network tested over 500,000 samples in 2024, a 27 per cent increase from the previous year. However, he warned that deep funding cuts threaten immunization programmes and laboratory networks, risking immunity gaps and future outbreaks unless sustainable domestic financing and partnerships are secured.
By the end of 2024, 81 countries had eliminated measles, just three more than before the pandemic, with 96 countries verified for elimination globally following updates in 2025. Dr Tedros emphasized that even high-income countries experience resurgences when local vaccination drops below 95 per cent, leaving unprotected pockets at risk.
“Measles elimination requires strong political commitment, sustained investment, and comprehensive strategies to ensure all children receive two doses, while robust surveillance detects outbreaks early,” he said, urging countries to strengthen routine immunization, surveillance, rapid response capabilities, and high-coverage campaigns until vaccination coverage is sufficient to prevent transmission.
