Measles cases and deaths rise globally due to declining vaccination rates

measles resurgence vaccination rates Nature Medicine Benn Sartorius World Health Organization

A new study published in Nature Medicine reveals a significant resurgence of measles worldwide, reversing decades of progress. Researchers analyzed data from 204 countries and territories, finding that measles incidence and mortality rates, which had dropped by approximately 80 percent and 90 percent respectively between 1990 and 2019, have risen sharply since 2020.

For the year 2023, the study estimated 15.6 million cases and 118,000 deaths, representing a 40 percent increase in cases and a 12 percent increase in deaths compared to 2019. The research team, led by epidemiologist Benn Sartorius, identifies several drivers for this trend, including stagnating vaccination rates, disruptions to immunization programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the spread of vaccine misinformation in both developed and developing nations.

Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are noted as particularly affected regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains a target vaccination rate of 95 percent for two doses to ensure effective protection, yet global progress toward this goal has stalled.

Entities

Benn Sartorius · Nature Medicine · University of Queensland · University of Washington · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Measles deaths increased by 12 percent between 2019 and 2023. www.vol.at · kurier.at · www.tt.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Measles incidence and mortality rates fell by approximately 80 percent and 90 percent respectively between 1990 and 2019. www.vol.at · kurier.at · www.kosmo.at · www.tt.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The WHO estimated 11 million measles cases and 95,000 deaths for 2024. www.kosmo.at
[● 4 SOURCES] In 2023, there were an estimated 15.6 million measles cases and 118,000 deaths. www.vol.at · kurier.at · www.kosmo.at · www.tt.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Measles cases increased by 40 percent between 2019 and 2023. www.vol.at · kurier.at · www.tt.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Stagnating vaccination rates and pandemic-related disruptions are causes of the measles spread. www.kosmo.at
[● 4 SOURCES] The study analyzed data from 204 countries and territories. www.vol.at · kurier.at · www.kosmo.at · www.tt.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a vaccination rate of 95 percent for two doses. www.vol.at · kurier.at · www.tt.com