By Edward Williams

Ho, November 19, GNA – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on countries around the world to invest in immunizing their citizens, no matter where they are.

He revealed that the measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years, so investment in immunization would prevent the deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable.

A joint press release by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that measles cases have increased worldwide, resulting in an estimated 10.3 million people being infected in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022 according to new estimates. .

According to WHO and CDC, inadequate immunization coverage globally has led to the increase in cases.

They said measles can be prevented with two doses of measles vaccine, but more than 22 million children missed the first dose of measles vaccine in 2023.

The release also noted that globally, an estimated 83 percent of children received the first dose of measles vaccine in 2023, while only 74 percent received the recommended second dose.

He said coverage of 95 percent or more of two doses of measles vaccine is needed in every country and community to prevent outbreaks and protect populations from one of the world’s most contagious human viruses.

Mandy Cohen, director, CDC, said the number of measles infections is increasing around the globe, putting lives and health at risk.

She said: “The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus and we must continue to invest in efforts to increase access.”

The release revealed that, as a result of global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2023, affecting all regions except the Americas and representing a nearly 60% increase from 36 countries in the previous year.

The WHO regions of Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific have experienced a substantial increase in cases.

The release said nearly half of all large or disruptive outbreaks occurred in the African region.

It said the new data showed that around 107,500 people, mostly children under the age of five, died from measles in 2023.

The release said although it was an eight percent decrease from the previous year, far too many children were still dying from the preventable disease.

The slight drop in deaths is said to be mainly due to the increase in cases occurring in countries and regions where children with measles are less likely to die, due to better nutritional status and access to health services. health.

Even when people survived measles, serious health effects could occur, some of which lasted a lifetime.

“Infants and young children are at greatest risk of serious complications from the disease, which include blindness, pneumonia and encephalitis,” the statement said.

The release said that as measles cases increased and outbreaks increased, the world elimination goal as set out in the 2030 Immunization Agenda was threatened, adding that globally 82 countries had achieved or had maintained measles elimination until the end of 2023.

It said urgent and targeted efforts by countries and partners, particularly in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, and in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable environments, are needed to fully vaccinate all children with two doses of measles vaccine .

The communication called on countries and global immunization partners to also strengthen disease surveillance, including the Global Measles Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLN).

“Strong disease surveillance is essential to optimize immunization programs and to rapidly detect and respond to measles outbreaks to mitigate their size and impact,” it said.

GNA