India recorded 65,150 cases of measles in 2023, the second highest globally after the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Globally, measles cases surged by 20%, with 10.3 million infections reported last year. The estimated number of measles-related deaths also rose by 8% to 107,500.
Measles: A Preventable Yet Deadly Disease
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes fever, cough, runny nose, and skin rashes. While preventable through immunization, it can lead to severe complications such as brain swelling, pneumonia, blindness, and even death.
Unvaccinated and malnourished children are particularly vulnerable, with three out of every 1,000 infected children potentially dying from respiratory or neurological complications, as per the CDC.
Declining Immunization Coverage
Immunization rates have stagnated globally since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted vaccination programs. The report highlighted that global coverage for the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) was 83% in 2023, the same as in 2022 but lower than the pre-pandemic level of 86% in 2019. Similarly, the coverage for the second dose (MCV2) was only 74%, far below the 95% coverage required to prevent outbreaks.
In the WHO Southeast Asia region, MCV1 coverage had reached 94% in 2022 but dropped to 91% in 2023. MCV2 coverage in the region also dipped slightly to 85% in 2023, though it remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.
India’s specific immunization data for 2023 was unavailable in the report, but the government claimed MCV1 coverage rose to 93%. A previous report estimated that 1.1 million children in India missed their first dose in 2022.
Rising Risk of Outbreaks
Globally, 22.2 million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023, a 2% increase from the previous year. Two countries from the WHO Southeast Asia region were among the top ten countries with the highest number of infants missing their doses, though the report did not specify if India was one of them.
The WHO and CDC emphasized the need for urgent action, warning that inadequate immunization coverage is increasing the risk of outbreaks.
Calls for Investment in Immunization
“The number of measles infections is rising around the globe, endangering lives and health,” said CDC Director Mandy Cohen. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added, “To save more lives and stop this deadly virus, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live.”
Health experts urge governments to prioritize vaccination campaigns and improve access to vaccines, particularly in high-risk regions. Measles vaccines, often administered in combination with mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines, are critical for protecting children. WHO recommends the first dose of the vaccine be given at 9-12 months of age in high-risk countries and a second dose at 15-18 months to ensure immunity.
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