Global Measles Deaths Rose 50 Percent
Worldwide measles deaths climbed nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2019, with an estimated 207,500 lives claimed in 2019 alone. Reported cases reached their highest number in 23 years.
Global deaths from measles surged by nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2019, rising from approximately 139,000 in 2016 to an estimated 207,500 in 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that reported measles cases worldwide increased to 869,770 in 2019, the highest number since 1996.
The increase in cases and deaths is attributed to a failure to vaccinate children on schedule with two doses of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV). Global MCV1 coverage has stagnated at 84-85 percent for over a decade, while MCV2 coverage has reached only 71 percent, significantly below the 95 percent needed to control outbreaks.
Efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted routine immunization services, leading to pauses in measles vaccination campaigns in 26 countries, putting over 94 million people at risk. Health officials warn that the ongoing measles crisis must not be overshadowed by COVID-19, and that immunization programs must continue with adequate resources.
Organizations including the WHO, UNICEF, and the CDC are working with countries to strengthen immunization systems and address the resurgence of measles. The Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI) has launched a strategic framework for 2021-2030 aimed at overcoming reversals in global progress toward measles elimination.