Global Measles Resurgence: WHO Warns Vaccination Rates at 15-Year Low

Why Are Measles Cases Surging Worldwide?

The measles resurgence reflects a perfect storm of factors that have eroded global immunization coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine childhood vaccination programs in nearly every country, with UNICEF estimating that approximately 67 million children missed or received delayed vaccinations between 2020 and 2023. While catch-up campaigns have been underway, coverage has not returned to pre-pandemic levels in many regions.

Vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation on social media platforms, has compounded the problem. Surveys conducted by organizations including the Wellcome Trust have documented declining confidence in childhood vaccines across multiple countries in recent years. In the United States, CDC data has shown that measles vaccination rates among kindergartners have dipped to around 93% or below — approaching levels that concern public health officials.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known — a single infected person can transmit the virus to 12 to 18 susceptible individuals. This means that herd immunity requires vaccination coverage of at least 95%. When coverage drops even slightly below this threshold, outbreaks can spread rapidly, particularly in densely populated areas.

Which Regions Are Most Affected?

The WHO African Region has borne the heaviest burden, accounting for a large share of global measles cases. Countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Ethiopia have reported major outbreaks with thousands of confirmed cases each. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, India and Indonesia have also reported significant increases in measles activity.

Europe has not been spared. Romania, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom have all reported sustained outbreaks. The UK declared a national incident in early 2024 after a measles outbreak centered in the West Midlands, prompting urgent catch-up vaccination campaigns. In the United States, outbreaks have been reported in multiple states, predominantly affecting unvaccinated children in communities with low immunization rates.

The WHO and partners have called for substantial emergency funding to support supplementary immunization activities in the most affected countries. The measles vaccine is safe, highly effective (approximately 97% after two doses), and costs less than $1 per dose in low-income settings through programs like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

What Is Being Done to Control the Outbreaks?

The WHO and UNICEF have mobilized through the Measles & Rubella Partnership (formerly the Measles & Rubella Initiative), coordinating emergency immunization campaigns in priority countries. These campaigns aim to reach tens of millions of under-vaccinated children with measles-containing vaccines. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has committed additional funding to support these efforts in the world's lowest-income countries.

At the national level, several countries have strengthened vaccination mandates. Australia maintains its "No Jab, No Pay" and "No Jab, No Play" policies linking vaccination to childcare benefits. France has required measles vaccination as part of its expanded mandatory childhood vaccination schedule since 2018. Italy has also enforced school entry vaccination requirements. Additional countries are considering similar measures in response to rising cases.

Public health experts emphasize that measles elimination is achievable with existing tools. The WHO Immunization Agenda 2030 framework sets a target of achieving 95% coverage with measles-containing vaccines in all countries, acknowledging that earlier elimination targets have not been met due to pandemic-related setbacks.