Measles deaths dropped sharply since 2000, but health officials now report clear signs of a resurgence.
Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia jumped by 47 per cent last year because vaccination rates fell, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report. Officials warn that global progress is slipping, with recent gains against infections and deaths beginning to erode.
In 2024, measles killed an estimated 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five. That number remains far below the 780,000 deaths recorded in 2000, yet the WHO stated that “every death from a disease that could be prevented with a highly effective and low-cost vaccine is unacceptable”.
The WHO reported that vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000.
However, measles infections continue to rise. Officials estimated 11 million global cases last year, about 800,000 more than pre-pandemic levels. Earlier this year, the agency reported more than 120,000 cases in Europe and Central Asia in 2024, the highest level in over 25 years. The WHO also recorded major outbreaks in 59 countries last year, nearly three times the number reported in 2021.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Measles is the world’s most contagious virus, and these data show once again how it will exploit any gap in our collective defences against it.”
Falling Vaccination Rates Drive Rising Outbreaks
Officials identify falling vaccination uptake as the main cause of the resurgence. Measles spreads so easily that at least 95 per cent of people must be immunised to prevent outbreaks.
WHO data show that 84 per cent of children worldwide received the first vaccine dose last year, and 76 per cent received the second. These figures mark a slight improvement, with two million additional children receiving the jab.
Even so, more than 30 million children remained “under-protected” against measles in 2024, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Experts note that outbreaks can still emerge in countries with strong national vaccination levels if unvaccinated pockets exist.
The WHO warned that measles often resurfaces first when immunisation systems weaken, adding that rising outbreaks point to structural problems in global health programmes.
Children who survive measles face increased risks of pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis, which can cause brain swelling and lasting damage.
WHO Urges Renewed Action and Investment
The WHO called for more funding and coordinated global action to eliminate measles.
Dr Tedros stated, “Measles does not respect borders, but when every child in every community is vaccinated against it, costly outbreaks can be avoided, lives can be saved, and this disease can be eliminated from entire nations.”
