• Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose.

• Measles is one of the most contagious human viruses, but is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. 

• Measles is mostly spread through direct contact or in the air and causes symptoms including fever, muscle pain and a skin rash on the face and upper neck.

• A report published by the World Health Organisation and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed 25 million children missed their first dose and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose. 

• This decline is a significant setback in global progress towards achieving and maintaining measles elimination and leaves millions of children susceptible to infection.

• In 2021, there were about 9 million measles infections and 128,000 deaths worldwide.

• Nearly 61 million measles vaccine doses were postponed or missed due to COVID-19-related delays in immunization campaigns in 18 countries. Delays increase the risk of measles outbreaks.

One of the most contagious diseases

• Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. 

• Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals.

• It is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.

• Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every 2–3 years and measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.

• Measles outbreaks can result in epidemics that cause many deaths, especially among young, malnourished children. In countries where measles has been largely eliminated, cases imported from other countries remain an important source of infection.

• To prevent measles outbreaks, WHO estimates about 95 per cent of the population must be immunised. Vaccination coverage using two measles vaccines has stalled between about 70 per cent and 85 per cent globally.

• Most measles-related deaths are caused by complications including swelling of the brain and dehydration. 

• Serious complications are most serious in children under five and adults over 30.

• More than 95 per cent of measles deaths occur in developing countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. 

• There is no specific treatment for measles, but the two-dose vaccine against it is about 97 per cent effective in preventing severe illness and death.

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