Measles deaths have fallen sharply since 2000, but experts now report troubling signs of a resurgence.
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that Europe and Central Asia saw measles cases rise by 47 per cent last year due to declining vaccination rates. The agency warns that global progress against the virus is slipping.
In 2024, measles killed an estimated 95,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five. The number remains far lower than the 780,000 deaths recorded in 2000, yet the WHO insists that “every death from a disease that could be prevented with a highly effective and low-cost vaccine is unacceptable.” The agency says vaccination campaigns have saved nearly 59 million lives since the turn of the century.
Despite this, global infections continue to grow. Last year saw an estimated 11 million cases, roughly 800,000 more than before the pandemic. The WHO earlier reported more than 120,000 infections in Europe and Central Asia in 2024, marking the region’s highest tally in over 25 years. Major outbreaks occurred in 59 countries, nearly triple the number seen in 2021.
Vaccination Gaps Drive Reemergence
“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,” WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
The agency identifies falling vaccination rates as the main cause of rising outbreaks. Health officials say the virus spreads so easily that at least 95 per cent of people must be immunised to maintain community protection.
WHO data shows that 84 per cent of children received their first measles vaccine dose last year, while 76 per cent received the second. This marks a slight improvement, with two million more children vaccinated compared with the previous year.
Even so, more than 30 million children remained “under-protected” in 2024, mainly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Outbreaks can occur even in countries with strong national vaccination rates if unprotected groups remain.
The WHO warns that measles often resurfaces first when immunisation levels drop, revealing weaknesses in health systems and vaccination programmes worldwide.
Severe Risks Highlight Urgent Need for Action
Children who survive measles face higher risks of pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis, which can cause brain swelling and long-term damage.
The WHO urges governments to strengthen funding and renew global commitments to eliminate measles.
“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,” Tedros said.
