Yemen faces deadly measles outbreak and rising rabies cases amid vaccine shortages

A measles outbreak in Yemen has intensified in the first half of 2026, with health officials reporting 14,470 suspected cases and 87 deaths in government‑controlled areas. The fatalities are spread across multiple governorates, with Hadhramaut, Taiz and Aden recording the highest death tolls. Limited access to routine vaccinations, poverty, displacement, long travel distances and misinformation are hindering control efforts, and the World Health Organization estimates that the majority of cases occur outside government‑controlled zones, suggesting the true impact is larger.

At the same time, rabies infections are surging across several provinces. More than 500 dog‑bite cases have been recorded in Taiz since the start of 2026, while Ibb province, under Houthi control, reported 3,951 cases and six deaths last year. Supplies of antiserum and rabies vaccines are critically low, and patients are forced to purchase costly doses from private pharmacies. Accusations of profiteering by authorities have further complicated the response, underscoring the fragility of Yemen’s health system.