Translated with AI
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a new report finding that global vaccination efforts have reduced measles deaths by 88 percent between 2000 and 2024. Vaccines have saved nearly 59 million lives, the UN press service reported.
However, despite the impressive decline in mortality, the disease continues to spread. In 2024, approximately 95,000 people died from measles, mostly children under five. This is one of the lowest figures in recent decades, but every death from a disease preventable with an inexpensive and effective vaccine remains a tragedy.
According to the WHO, the number of measles cases worldwide has risen sharply: in 2024, approximately 11 million were registered – 800,000 more than before the pandemic in 2019.
“Measles is the most contagious virus in the world, and these data show once again that it exploits any gaps in our collective defenses,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “If every child in every community is vaccinated, we can avoid outbreaks, save lives, and ultimately eliminate the disease.”
Regional trends In the Eastern Mediterranean, the number of measles cases increased by 86 percent compared to 2019, in Europe by 47 percent, and in Southeast Asia by 42 percent.
Africa, by contrast, has shown a decline: cases have fallen by 40 percent and deaths by 50 percent, due to increased immunization.
In 2024, 84 percent of children worldwide received the first dose of vaccine, while only 76 percent received the second, while at least 95 percent coverage with two doses is needed to prevent transmission. More than 30 million children remained unprotected, three-quarters of them in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Large outbreaks In 2024, major measles outbreaks were reported in 59 countries, almost three times more than in 2021. In 2025, the situation worsened in countries in North and South America, where large outbreaks also began.
The WHO warns that cuts to funding for laboratory networks and national vaccination programmes could lead to further gaps in protection and an increase in the number of infections.
Moving towards a measles-free world By the end of 2024, measles had been eliminated in 81 countries. In 2025, these countries were joined by the Pacific island nations, as well as Cape Verde, Mauritius, and the Seychelles—the first African countries to be certified as measles-free. In total, 96 countries now have measles-free status.
Even in developed countries, the disease sometimes resurfaces due to vaccination rates falling below the 95 percent threshold. The WHO is calling on governments to make sustained investments to ensure all children receive two doses of the vaccine and to strengthen surveillance systems.
