43% Increase in Global Deaths From Measles – WHO Report

Context:

• The number of measles deaths worldwide increased by 43% from 2021 to 2022 according to a new assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Global Deaths From Measles Disease

• In 2022, there were an estimated 136,000 deaths from measles disease globally, most of which were among children.
• Measles Outbreaks: Around 37 countries saw disruptive measles outbreaks in 2022, with 28 countries in the African Region, 6 in the Eastern Mediterranean, 2 in Southeast Asia, and 1 in Europe. 

What is Measles Disease?

• It is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus.
• Measles disease is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype. 
• It is classified as a member of the genus Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family. 
• Humans are the only natural hosts of the measles virus.
• Transmission: It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death. 
• Affects: Anyone but is most common in children and infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. 
• Symptoms: Include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body.

Vaccination Coverage against Measles

• Safe and cost-effective vaccines are available and measles vaccination averted 56 million deaths between 2000 and 2021. 
  • The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Measles can be avoided with two vaccination doses.
• However, despite a small rise in vaccination coverage worldwide from 2021 to 2022, 33 million children were still not vaccinated against measles.
• In 2022, about 83% of the world’s children received their first dose of the measles vaccine, the lowest since 2008.
• India’s Strategy: To eradicate measles by 2023, India has plans to vaccinate 95% of the population with two doses of the measles vaccine under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush.

News Source: DTE

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