WHO says global elimination of measles is now a distant goal as cases surge

For decades, measles vaccination has been a landmark achievement in global health. From 2000 to 2024, worldwide measles deaths fell by 88%, saving an estimated 58 million lives, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report. However, the decline in vaccine coverage has allowed measles cases to rise sharply.

Last year, 59 countries reported significant measles outbreaks, nearly three times the number recorded in 2021. Alarmingly, a quarter of these outbreaks occurred in countries previously declared measles-free, including Canada and the United States. The WHO emphasized that global measles elimination remains a distant goal.

The report notes that the progress achieved over the past decades is at risk due to resurging outbreaks and declining resources for immunization and disease monitoring, particularly as the U.S. government reduces its global health support. Elimination is defined as the absence of ongoing virus transmission and the ability to contain imported cases. Canada recently lost its elimination status, and the WHO is concerned that the U.S. could follow suit, according to Dr. Kate OBrien, director of WHOs Department of Immunization.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,798 confirmed measles cases this year, the highest since the country achieved elimination in 2000. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that measles remains one of the most contagious viruses globally, exploiting gaps in vaccination coverage. Over 30 million children worldwide were underprotected against measles in 2024.

Despite these challenges, there have been successes. Measles deaths have dramatically decreased since 2000, and all WHO regions are committed to eliminating measles and rubella through at least 95% vaccine coverage, enhanced surveillance, and integration of elimination goals into broader healthcare strategies. Cabo Verde, Seychelles, and Mauritius became the first African nations to achieve measles elimination this year, while 21 Pacific island countries also reached elimination milestones.

Diana Chang Blanc, head of WHOs Essential Program on Immunization, stressed that progress is evident but still too slow, with cases and deaths remaining unacceptably high. She noted that a second dose of the measles vaccine is essential for long-lasting immunity, yet three countries have yet to make it standard practice. In 2024, 84% of children received the first dose, and only 76% received the second, leaving millions underprotected, especially in conflict-affected and fragile regions.

The report attributes the slow progress to declining global vaccination rates and setbacks since the Covid-19 pandemic. Children who missed vaccines during the pandemic have struggled to catch up. Dr. OBrien described measles as a "fire alarm" for immunization programs, signaling gaps in coverage and inequities in healthcare access. Similar gaps exist for other preventable diseases, including whooping cough and polio.

WHO identifies misinformation, disinformation, and limited access as key obstacles. Chang Blanc emphasized that weak routine immunization systemsrequiring trained health workers, logistics, transportation, and surveillanceare the primary reason for high measles incidence. Funding cuts to the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which includes 760 laboratories, threaten to widen immunity gaps and drive further outbreaks.

The WHO report calls for sustainable domestic financing and new partnerships as critical steps to achieving a world free of measles.

Author: Sophia Brooks