Morocco's increasingly concerning measles epidemic
In a follow-up on the measles epidemic in Morocco, the country’s Ministry of Health now reports 10,290 measles cases in this increasingly concerning epidemic since the beginning of the year, including 21 deaths (0.2% CFR).
The measles outbreak that actually began in October 2023 has reached more than 31,000 cases and 132 deaths from all regions of the country.
Experts say the resurgence of the virus can be traced to declining immunization rates, exacerbated by gaps in epidemiological monitoring and vaccine hesitancy—some of it fueled by anti-vaccine misinformation that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For years, the virus had been largely controlled in Morocco through widespread vaccination, but health officials now warn that a decline in childhood vaccinations has left large segments of the population vulnerable.
In 2022, the national measles vaccination coverage among children <1 was 99%.
More recently, officials say vaccine coverage has fallen below the critical 95 percent threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. With rates hovering at 80 percent or lower in some regions, the virus has regained a foothold in the North African country.
Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, said on Thursday that his department has adopted a multiaxial plan to halt the spread of measles.
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Tahraoui discussed the plan involved extending the national vaccination campaign and catching up on vaccinations, which has enabled checking the vaccination status of more than 8.88 million children under the age of 18.
In addition, the Ministry has strengthened epidemiological monitoring capacities, while ensuring the deployment of rapid intervention teams in the most affected areas, he added, noting also the supply of medicines and medical devices needed for urgent treatment of registered cases.