Global measles cases in children under five rise by 40 percent

A comprehensive global study published in the journal Nature Medicine reveals a 40% increase in measles cases among children under five between 2019 and 2023. Led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, researchers analyzed data from 204 countries and territories to evaluate vaccination gaps, infection rates, and mortality.

According to the findings, the number of children under five infected with measles reached 15.6 million in 2023, rising from 11.1 million in 2019. Consequently, the estimated number of deaths attributed to the disease climbed from approximately 105,000 in 2019 to 118,000 in 2023. This resurgence marks a significant setback in global public health, reversing a positive trend that saw measles cases drop by nearly 80% worldwide between 1990 and 2019.

The study highlights that vaccination coverage remains below pre-pandemic levels, leaving millions of children vulnerable. The data emphasizes an urgent need to address the disruption in immunization services that has allowed the preventable disease to gain ground again globally.