By Mariam Sunny
(Reuters) -Global measles cases fell 71% to 11 million from the year 2000 to 2024, driven by improved vaccination coverage, the World Health Organization said in a report on Friday.
Vaccination has prevented nearly 59 million deaths globally during this period, according to the report.
Deaths dropped even more sharply by 88% to 95,000 in 2024, among the lowest annual tolls since 2000.
However, estimated cases in 2024 rose 8%, while deaths dropped 11%, compared with 2019 pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a shift in disease burden from low-income to middle-income countries, which have lower fatality ratios, the report said.
Measles is often the first disease to see a resurgence when vaccination coverage drops, the agency said, adding that growing measles outbreaks expose weaknesses in immunization programmes and health systems.
Due to its high transmissibility, "even small drops in vaccine coverage can trigger outbreaks, like a fire alarm going off when smoke is detected," said Kate O'Brien, director of the Department of Immunization at WHO.
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts are cruising to the moon. So why are they doing CPR tests today?- From Overpowered to Coordinated: Individual Accounts of Cleaning up
- 8 key takeaways from Savannah Guthrie's 'Today' interview on the disappearance of her mother
- Sophie Kinsella, 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' author, dies at 55 after battle with cancer
- I’m a doctor. Here are 10 science-backed tips to help you get healthier.
- Free Fuel Giveaway Sparks Traffic Mayhem Before Police Shut It Down
- Holiday travel: Best days to hit the road as 110 million Americans expected to drive over Christmas and New Year's
- Vote in favor of Your #1 4K television: Lucidity and Drenching Matter
- French high-speed train slams into truck, killing TGV driver
