Measles deaths fell sharply since 2000, yet officials now warn of a clear global resurgence.
Cases in Europe and Central Asia rose by 47 per cent last year because vaccination rates dropped, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The warning arrives as signs show measles regaining ground worldwide, undermining two decades of progress.
An estimated 95,000 people died from measles in 2024, mostly children under five. That number stands far below the 780,000 deaths recorded in 2000, but the WHO stated that “every death from a disease that could be prevented with a highly effective and low-cost vaccine is unacceptable.”
Vaccination campaigns worldwide saved nearly 59 million lives since 2000, the WHO said.
Yet measles cases continue to rise again. Officials estimated 11 million infections last year, which marked an increase of about 800,000 compared with pre-pandemic levels.
WHO data earlier this year showed more than 120,000 measles cases in Europe and Central Asia in 2024, the highest figure in over 25 years.
The WHO reported major outbreaks in 59 countries last year, nearly triple the number seen in 2021.
WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Measles is the world’s most contagious virus, and these data show once again how it will exploit any gap in our collective defences against it.”
Vaccination Gaps Drive the Spread
The agency identified declining vaccine uptake as the main factor behind the rise in outbreaks.
Measles spreads so easily that health officials say at least 95 per cent of people must receive immunisation to ensure community protection.
WHO figures show that 84 per cent of children worldwide received their first measles vaccine dose last year, while 76 per cent received the second. Those numbers rose slightly from the year before, with two million more children vaccinated.
Despite that improvement, more than 30 million children remained “under-protected” in 2024, mainly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Outbreaks still occur in countries with high overall vaccination rates when unvaccinated groups form pockets of vulnerability.
Officials warned that measles often reappears first when immunisation levels slip, revealing weaknesses in global health systems.
Children who survive measles face higher risks of pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis, which can cause severe brain swelling and lasting damage.
Global Action Needed to Halt the Rebound
The WHO urged governments to increase funding and intensify coordinated efforts to eliminate measles worldwide.
Tedros said, “Measles does not respect borders, but when every child in every community is vaccinated against it, costly outbreaks can be avoided, lives can be saved, and this disease can be eliminated from entire nations.”
