The disease killed 107,500 people in 2023, most of them aged under five.

About 10.3 million people contracted measles last year, a 20% increase from 2022, a new study estimates.

The increase in cases of contagious disease reflects a decline in vaccination coverage, according to the study published by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The number of measles infections is increasing around the world, putting lives and health care at risk,” said CDC Director Mandy Cohen. “The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus, and we must continue to invest in efforts to increase access. »

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. At least 95 percent coverage with two doses of measles/rubella vaccine is needed to prevent outbreaks.

But in 2023, only 83 percent of children worldwide received their first dose of measles vaccine through routine health services – the same level as in 2022, but down from 86 percent. hundred before the COVID pandemic.

Only 74 percent received their second dose last year, according to the study.

“The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine over the past 50 years,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

“To save even more lives and prevent this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in vaccinating every person, no matter where they live. »

“Too many children are dying”

Due to global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced large and disruptive measles outbreaks in 2023, compared to 36 countries a year earlier, according to the WHO/CDC study.

All regions except the Americas have been affected, it says, and almost half of all large, disruptive outbreaks have occurred in the African region.

The virus, which can cause rashes, fever and flu-like symptoms but also particularly serious complications in young children, is estimated to have killed 107,500 people in 2023, most of them aged under five.

This represents a decrease of 8 percent from the previous year.

The agencies explained that the decline was mainly because the increase in cases occurred in countries and regions where children with measles were less likely to die, thanks to better nutritional status and better access. to health services.

“Far too many children are still dying from this preventable disease,” they said.

The agencies warned that the global goal of eliminating measles as an endemic threat by 2030 was “at risk”.

By the end of last year, 82 countries had achieved or maintained measles elimination.

After Brazil confirmed this week that it had eliminated measles, the WHO Americas region is once again considered free of endemic measles.

Every region except Africa now has at least one country that has eliminated the disease.

The agencies called for urgent and targeted efforts to ensure that all children receive two vaccine doses, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean regions and in fragile and conflict-affected areas.

“This requires establishing and maintaining high-performing routine immunization programs and running high-quality, high-coverage campaigns when these programs are not yet sufficient to protect every child,” they said.