Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death.
According to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report, modelled estimates show that the annual number of measles cases decreased from approximately 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024, while the number of measles deaths fell from 780,000 to 95,000, among the lowest annual estimates since 2000.
An estimated 58 million deaths were prevented during this period because of a safe and cost-effective vaccine.
Global estimated coverage with measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) increased steadily from 71% in 2000 to 84% in 2010, then remained relatively stable through 2019 (86%).
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the immunization programmes in all WHO regions, resulting in a global decrease in MCV1 coverage to 81% in 2021. Recovery since then has been gradual, with global MCV1 coverage reaching 84% in 2024 – still slightly below pre-pandemic levels.
The report notes that various trends in MCV1 coverage can be observed in WHO regions.
For example, the WHO African Region (AFR) has the lowest coverage of all regions. It experienced a steady increase between 2000 (50%) and 2009 (72%) and then plateaued. The Region experienced a decrease in coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, to 67% in 2022, from which it has now fully recovered (reaching 71% in 2024).
Globally, 20.6 million children missed their MCV1 dose in routine immunization in 2024, 56% of whom lived in AFR and 19% in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).
Routine measles vaccination, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with high case rates are crucial for reducing global measles deaths. The measles vaccine has been in use for about 60 years and costs less than US$ 1 per child. The measles vaccine is also used in emergencies to stop outbreaks from spreading. The risk of measles outbreaks is particularly high amongst refugees, who should be vaccinated as soon as possible.
The report concludes the global measles vaccination programme is a major public health achievement, having reduced annual deaths due to measles by nearly 90% between 2000 and 2024 and saved a cumulative 58.7 million lives in that period.
Yet, global measles elimination remains a distant goal, requiring sufficient resources and sustained political commitment from countries and immunization partners to extend and maintain high MCV coverage, while reinforcing surveillance and outbreak response.