Measles incidence increased by 20 percent

In 2023, 10.3 million. measles caseswhat does it mean 20 percent increase regarding 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated and warned that Insufficient immunization coverage worldwide is responsible for the rising number of cases.

The disease can be prevented with two doses of measles vaccine. Globally, approximately 83 percent of children will have received a first dose of a vaccine in 2023, but only 74 percent will have received a second dose.. More than 22 million children have not received their first dose.

WHO said 95 percent or more coverage with two doses of the vaccine is needed in every country and community to prevent outbreaks and protect populations from one of the world’s most contagious human viruses.

“The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the last 50 years,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.

He insisted that To save more lives and prevent the virus from harming the most vulnerable, it is necessary to “invest in immunizing all people, wherever they live.”

As a result of global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced major measles outbreaks in 2023, affecting all regions except the Americas. and represents an increase of almost 60 percent compared to 36 countries in the previous year. Almost half of all major outbreaks occurred in the African region.

New data published by WHO shows that about In 2023, 107,500 people died from measles, mostly children under five.

. Although this is an 8% decrease from the previous year, it is still too high for a preventable disease, the WHO said.

This small decline in mortality was mainly due to an increase in the number of cases in countries and regions where children are less likely to die from measles due to improved nutrition and access to health services.

The health agency warned about this. Even if people survive measles, serious health consequences can occur.some of which are for life. Infants and young children are most susceptible to serious complications from the disease, such as blindness, pneumonia and encephalitis (an infection that causes inflammation of the brain and can damage the brain).

WHO stressed that last week it was once again confirmed that Brazil had eliminated measles, making the American continent once again free of endemic measles.

Moreover, with the exception of Africa, at least one country in all WHO regions has eliminated the disease.

Do you know how important vaccines are in eliminating deadly diseases?

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