By: Lloyd Mahachi

There has been a big increase in measles cases around the world. In 2023, over 10 million people got measles. This is 20% more than the year before. The main reason for this rise is that fewer people are getting vaccinated. To stop measles from spreading, at least 95% of people need to get two doses of the vaccine. But last year, only 83% of children got their first dose, and 74% got their second dose.

Many countries had big measles outbreaks in 2023. Fifty-seven countries had serious outbreaks, and Africa was the hardest hit. The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control are worried about this trend. They say we need to do more to vaccinate people who are at risk.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be very serious for young children. Experts say that even one case of measles should trigger immediate action. Countries need to have good systems in place to detect and respond to outbreaks quickly. The international community also needs to support countries in vaccinating their most vulnerable populations.

The situation is critical, especially in low-income countries where vaccination rates are low. In 2022, 22 million children missed their first measles vaccine dose. Most of these children live in countries like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Angola, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and Madagascar. We need to take urgent action to prevent more outbreaks and protect children from this preventable disease.

Editor: Josephine Mahachi