Global Measles Deaths Surge in 2022, WHO Reports
Measles Cases Increase Globally in 2022
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a significant increase in measles cases and deaths worldwide in 2022.
According to the report, the number of measles cases has increased by 18 percent, with an estimated 9 million people affected. The number of deaths has also increased by 43 percent, with 136,000 people succumbing to the disease, most of whom are children.
The report also highlights large-scale outbreaks in 37 countries, a significant jump from the 21 countries that experienced outbreaks in 2021. The WHO African Region has been particularly hard hit, with 28 affected countries, along with six in the Eastern Mediterranean, two in South-East Asia, and one in Europe.
The report emphasizes that measles is a preventable disease, with two doses of the measles vaccine being effective in preventing infection. However, despite a modest increase in global vaccination coverage in 2022, approximately 33 million children missed a measles vaccine dose, with nearly 22 million missing their first dose and an additional 11 million missing their second dose. The global vaccine coverage rate for the first dose stands at 83 percent, and 74 percent for the second dose, falling well below the 95 percent coverage needed to protect communities from outbreaks.
In Kyrgyzstan alone, at least 4,098 people have contracted measles since the beginning of the year, highlighting the urgency of increasing vaccination coverage and awareness about the importance of measles vaccination.
The report underscores the need for global efforts to improve vaccination coverage and access to measles vaccines to prevent further outbreaks and reduce the impact of this highly contagious and dangerous disease.
