Key Facts and Overview of Measles: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment

Measles, a highly contagious and serious airborne disease caused by a virus, continues to pose a significant threat to global health, despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine. In 2022, an estimated 136,000 people died from measles, with the majority of deaths occurring among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of 5.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on measles vaccination efforts has been significant, with setbacks in surveillance and immunization leading to millions of children being vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles. The suspension of immunization services and declines in immunization rates have left many children at risk.

However, there is hope in the fight against measles. Accelerated immunization activities have successfully averted an estimated 57 million deaths between 2000 and 2022. Vaccination efforts have decreased measles deaths from 761,000 in 2000 to 136,000 in 2022.

It is crucial for countries to strengthen their immunization programs and reach all children with two doses of the measles vaccine. With community-wide vaccination being the most effective way to prevent measles, efforts must be made to ensure that all children receive the necessary vaccinations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and global stakeholders have endorsed the Immunization Agenda 2021–2030, which aims to achieve regional targets and position measles as a tracer of a health system’s ability to deliver essential childhood vaccines. The Measles & Rubella Partnership is committed to ensuring no child dies from measles or is born with congenital rubella syndrome.

Despite the challenges posed by measles, there is hope for a future where this preventable disease no longer poses a threat to global health. Through continued vaccination efforts and strengthened immunization programs, we can work towards a world free from the devastating impact of measles.