Global measles cases drop 71% in 24 years as vaccination coverage improves, WHO says

By Mariam Sunny

(Reuters) -Global measles cases fell 71% to 11 ​million from the year 2000 to 2024, ‌driven by improved vaccination coverage, the World Health Organization ‌said in a report on Friday.

Vaccination has prevented nearly 59 million deaths globally during this period, according to the report.

Deaths dropped even more sharply by 88%⁠ to 95,‌000 in 2024, among the lowest annual tolls since 2000.

However, estimated cases ‍in 2024 rose 8%, while deaths dropped 11%, compared with 2019 pre-pandemic levels, ​reflecting a shift in disease burden from low-‌income to middle-income countries, which have lower fatality ratios, the report said.

Measles is often the first disease to see a resurgence when vaccination coverage drops, the agency said, adding that ⁠growing measles outbreaks expose weaknesses ​in immunization programmes and health ​systems.

Due to its high transmissibility, "even small drops in vaccine coverage can ‍trigger outbreaks,⁠ like a fire alarm going off when smoke is detected," said Kate O'⁠Brien, director of the Department of Immunization at WHO.

‌(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; ‌Editing by Vijay Kishore)