WHO warns: measles deaths are rising

Declining global vaccination rates have led to an increase in measles outbreaks and deaths, the World Health Organization reported on November 18.

Increase in measles outbreaks

WHO experts note that the number of deaths from infection in 2022 increased by 43% compared to 2021. The total number of measles patients in the world was estimated at 9 million people, and the deaths were at 136 thousand, most of them children. IN message it says:

“The threat of measles to children continues to grow steadily. In 2022, large and severe outbreaks of the disease were recorded in 37 countries, compared to 22 countries in 2021.”

The organization notes that this situation was predicted, as in recent years there has been a decrease in the level of vaccination:

“In 2022, compared with 2021, vaccination coverage increased slightly worldwide, but the number of children who missed a vaccine dose was 33 million, of whom almost 22 million missed the first dose, and another 11 million missed the second.” .

According to WHO, the infection is spreading most actively in low-income countries:

“More than half of the 22 million children who missed the first dose of measles vaccine in 2022 live in 10 countries – Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan.”

WHO reminds:

1. Measles is highly contagious acute viral diseasewhich is transmitted by airborne droplets and can lead to serious complications and death.
2. Between 2000 and 2021, measles vaccination prevented 56 million deaths.
3. Despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine, there were an estimated 128,000 measles deaths worldwide in 2021, mostly among unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children under 5 years of age.
4. In 2022, about 83% of the world’s children received one dose of measles vaccine during their first year of life as part of routine health care, the lowest level since 2008.

Who can get sick and symptoms of measles

Anyone can get measles, but it most often occurs in children. Measles affects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and rash all over the body. The most effective way to prevent measles and its transmission is vaccination. The vaccine is safe and helps the body fight the virus.

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