CDC Warns of Global Measles Threat as Cases and Deaths Surge in 2022
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a concerning surge in measles cases and deaths worldwide in 2022. Measles outbreaks were reported in 37 countries, with a significant increase compared to the previous year. The rise has been attributed to declining measles vaccination rates, particularly in low-income countries.
According to the report, over 33 million children missed measles vaccinations in 2022, exacerbating the situation and leading to an 18% increase in measles cases and a 43% increase in deaths globally, compared to 2021. The estimated number of measles cases reached 9 million, with 136,000 deaths, most of which were among children.
Numerous regions have been grappling with widespread outbreaks, with 28 countries in the WHO Region for Africa, six in the Eastern Mediterranean, two in Southeast Asia, and one in the European Region reporting large or disruptive outbreaks.
“The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we’ve seen in the past few years,” said John Vertefeuille, director of CDC’s Global Immunization Division. “Urgent, targeted efforts are critical to prevent measles disease and deaths.”
Despite a modest global increase in vaccination coverage in 2022, vaccination rates are still below the 95% coverage required to protect communities from outbreaks. Low-income countries continue to have the lowest vaccination rates, with 66% lacking coverage, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The lack of recovery in measles vaccine coverage in low-income countries following the pandemic is an alarm bell for action. Measles is called the inequity virus for good reason. It is the disease that will find and attack those who aren’t protected,” said Kate O’Brien, WHO Director for Immunization, Vaccine and Biologicals.
In response to the alarming surge in measles cases and deaths, the CDC and WHO are calling for global action to find and vaccinate all children against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. They are urging global stakeholders to aid countries in vaccinating their most vulnerable communities and invest in surveillance and outbreak response capacity to rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks.
The CDC and WHO are also members of the Measles & Rubella Partnership (M&RP), a global initiative aimed at stopping measles and rubella. The initiative includes partners such as the American Red Cross, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, United Nations Foundation, and UNICEF. The M&RP’s mission includes addressing declines in national vaccination coverage, accelerating progress towards creating a world free of measles and rubella, and hastening COVID-19 pandemic recovery.