Measles Deaths Surge Worldwide

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

Deaths due to measles increased 50% from 2016 to 2019, according to recent data from the World Health Organization and CDC that were highlighted in MMWR. In 2019, over 200,000 people died from the disease.

This coincided with an increase in measles cases. In 2019, nearly 870,000 cases were recorded worldwide, the highest case count since 1996. In comparison, roughly 132,000 cases were reported just 3 years earlier.

In MMWR, the authors write: "In all WHO regions, the fundamental cause of the resurgence was a failure to vaccinate, both in recent and past years, causing immunity gaps in both younger and some older age groups." For adequate measles control, vaccine coverage must reach 95%, the WHO said. In 2019, coverage for the second dose stood at about 71%.

Because of COVID-19, vaccination campaigns have been disrupted in many areas. Health officials recommend that programs make plans for catch-up vaccination campaigns.