The number of measles cases worldwide has witnessed a significant increase of 88 per cent in 2023 from 2022, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday.
From 1,71,153 measles cases in 2022, it nearly doubled to 3,21,582 in 2023, said Patrick O’Connor of the WHO, who presented the research at the ongoing ESCMID Global Congress in Barcelona.
The report blamed the lack of vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic behind the significant increases in measles worldwide. “Over the last decade there has been significant progress towards measles and rubella elimination—the Regional Verification Commissions for Measles and Rubella Elimination from all of the WHO regions will review all national measles and rubella 2023 reports in 2024,” O’Connor said.
“The measles virus is extremely infectious and any gaps in immunisation coverage are potential risks for the outbreak. So, coverage needs to be high but also uniform and equitable,” he added.
2024 is likely to see a further increase in measles cases as some 94,481 cases have been reported up to early April. While 45 per cent of these cases have been in the WHO European region, Yemen, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are the countries with the highest reported measles incidence in the world, the report said.
“Worryingly, the number of countries suffering large or disruptive measles outbreaks (defined as 20 cases/million population continuously over a 12-month period) has tripled from 17 to 51,” the report said.
What Exactly Is Measles?
It’s a contagious viral infection affecting mostly kids but is not age-biased. The virus disperses through respiratory droplets of a sick person and thrives in areas of the human body, causing symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a noticeable bodily rash. Not all recover without medical ado; severe instances can lead to life-threatening complications.
What Happens To The Body After Contracting The Virus?
The virus, once in the body, targets the respiratory tract, meddles with the immune system, causing secondary infections and complications. Particularly, children’s body response is harsh due to their developing immune systems, making them exceptionally susceptible to this disease.
Affects the children more
Impactful measles can lead to pneumonia, a dominant child mortality reason globally. More so, victims may face long-term health hazards like vision and hearing impairments, along with cognitive difficulties.
Vaccines Against Measles
Vaccination, especially the MMR vaccine, is a tried and tested protection against the virus. It supports in curbing the spread of the disease within communities by developing herd immunity.
Given the recent hikes in measles cases, organizations like the WHO and other health bodies have stepped up their anti-measles drive. They’re augmenting vaccination drives, boosting outbreak detection systems, and aiding countries with a high disease burden. Responsible authorities are now accentuating on prompt vaccination for both kids and adults who risk contracting measles.
