The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that global immunization efforts contributed to an 88 per cent reduction in measles-related deaths between 2000 and 2024, saving nearly 59 million lives worldwide.
“However, an estimated 95,000 people, mostly children under five, died from measles in 2024,” WHO said on Friday, noting that every death from a preventable disease remains unacceptable despite progress achieved.
The organization added that measles infections are surging globally, with an estimated 11 million cases in 2024—almost 800,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019—highlighting 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.
“Measles does not respect borders, but full vaccination of every child prevents outbreaks, saves lives, and can eliminate the disease entirely from nations,” Ghebreyesus said, stressing that global vaccination equity is crucial.
He noted 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 advances in healthcare and nutrition,” he warned, calling for continued vigilance.
WHO estimates show that in 2024, 84 per cent of children received the first dose of the measles vaccine, 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 elimination has not been met.
Ghebreyesus said more than 30 million children remain under-protected, mostly in African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, often in fragile or underserved communities, creating gaps that facilitate ongoing outbreaks.
The WHO report noted that in 2024, 59 countries experienced large or disruptive outbreaks, the highest number 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,” Ghebreyesus said.
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, deep funding cuts threaten immunization programmes and laboratory networks, risking immunity gaps and future outbreaks unless sustainable domestic financing and partnerships are secured,” Ghebreyesus warned.
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.
“Even high-income countries experience resurgences when local vaccination drops below 95 per cent, leaving unprotected pockets at risk and enabling outbreaks despite high national coverage,” Ghebreyesus explained.
He stressed that measles elimination requires strong political commitment, sustained investment, and comprehensive strategies to ensure all children receive two doses while robust surveillance detects outbreaks early.
“The IA2030 Mid-Term Review urges countries and partners to strengthen routine immunization, surveillance, rapid response capabilities, and high-coverage campaigns to protect every child until vaccination coverage is sufficient to prevent transmission,” he added.
