Measles infections are climbing at an alarming rate worldwide, with the World Health Organization reporting 11 million cases last year alone. The surge underscores a troubling reversal in global progress, as the once realistic goal of measles elimination is now slipping further out of reach.
Health authorities say vaccination coverage has fallen well below the threshold needed to protect communities. To stop measles transmission, 95% of a population must be vaccinated—a level many regions are currently failing to maintain.
“Without sustained attention, hard-fought gains can easily be lost,” the WHO warned. “Where children are unvaccinated, outbreaks occur.” The organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) concluded that measles elimination is now “under threat,” citing a resurgence in numerous countries that had either achieved or nearly achieved elimination.
Health officials continue to push for the MMR vaccine as the most effective tool against the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus. The vaccine is 97% effective, significantly reducing both illness and spread.
Children typically receive the measles vaccine at 12–15 months and again between 4–6 years old. However, infants as young as six months can be vaccinated in high-risk situations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles can cause severe complications, including:
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Pneumonia
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Brain damage
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Blindness
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Deafness
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Severe diarrhea
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Premature birth or low birth weight in unvaccinated pregnant women
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Long-term immune system damage that increases vulnerability to other infections
In the U.S., the WHO’s recommended 95% vaccination goal remains unmet. Last school year, 92.7% of kindergarteners received measles immunizations.
The consequences are becoming evident: Measles cases in the U.S. are now at a 33-year high, with more than 1,798 confirmed infections this year, according to new CDC data. At least three deaths have been reported, and 212 patients have been hospitalized. Troublingly, 92% of cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals.