‘Backsliding immunisation coverage’ — WHO concerned over rising measles cases globally

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concerns over the rapid spread of measles globally.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is caused by a virus that attacks mainly children.

The most serious complications include blindness, brain swelling, diarrhoea, and severe respiratory infections.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Geneva, Natasha Crowcroft, a WHO technical adviser on measles and rubella, said experts in the measles world are extremely concerned.

Crowcroft said more than 306,000 cases of measles were reported worldwide in 2023 which represents a 79 percent increase from 2022.

She said measles cases are typically dramatically under-reported noting that the real number is “surely far higher”.

“Given the ballooning case numbers, we would anticipate an increase in deaths in 2023 as well,” she said.

“This year is going to be very challenging.”

She warned that more than half of all countries globally are currently believed to be at high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year.

Crowcroft added that some 142 million children are estimated to be susceptible to falling ill, noting that a major cause of the swelling numbers is the “backsliding immunisation coverage”.

Meanwhile, the first case of measles in northern Ireland in seven years was confirmed on Tuesday as cases have been rising across Great Britain and Ireland in recent weeks.