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The World Health Organization reports measles cases and deaths have soared around the globe since 2016. /AFP
The World Health Organization reports measles cases and deaths havesoared around theglobesince 2016.It reports an increase in cases to nearly 270,000 last year, while more than 207,000 people died—a 50 percent increase from 2016 levels.
The U.N. agency says thefailure toinoculatechildren on time with two doses of measles vaccinesis the main driverforincreasedcases and deaths. It says vaccination coverage remains well below the 95 percent needed to control the disease and prevent outbreaks and deaths.
Added to this mix is thecoronaviruspandemic. Although reported cases of measles are lower this yearthan last, WHO says efforts to control thecoronavirus outbreakhave resulted in disruptions in vaccination.
WHO'ssenior technical advisor formeasles andrubella, Natasha Crowcroft,tells VOA different strategies are needed to prevent new measles outbreaks in the time of COVID-19, the disease brought on by the coronavirus.
"TheNumberOne action we need to take is to prevent outbreaks from happening in countries where we have got the highest risks…and there are several where there is not the ability to be abletoput the health system in place to be able to rely on," she said.
Crowcroft says countries where routine immunization for children washappeningwill recover quickly from delays or suspended coverage during this difficult period.Shesaysweak countries will continue to be at risk of deadly outbreaks unless swift action is taken to close this widening gap.
TheWHO reports more than 94 million peopleare at risk of missing vaccines because nationwide campaignshave beenput on pausein 26 countries. This ledtohuge outbreaks intheDemocratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
Eight of the 26 countriesnowhave resumed their campaigns. They include Brazil, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines and Somalia.
(With input from agencies)
