[Healthcare, Credit to Pixabay]

A new report published on November 28, 2025, by the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the world’s progress against measles, one of the most contagious diseases in human history, remains dangerously fragile. 

In a new analysis released on Friday, the agency reported that while the long-term vaccination efforts have saved millions of lives, there is a decline in immunization that is further leading to a resurgence of outbreaks across multiple regions.

According to the WHO, global measles cases fell by 71% between 2000 and 2024, reaching approximately 11 million reported measles infections last year. 

During the same period, measles vaccination had prevented around 59 million deaths, which was considered one of the greatest public health successes of the century. 

The death rates caused by measles also dropped dramatically, from over half a million in 2000 to about 95,000 in 2024, marking an 88-90% reduction. 

However, the report also highlights an 8% rise in measles cases in 2024 compared with 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted health systems worldwide.

While this increase may seem minor, WHO emphasized that even small changes in measles transmission are significant, given the virus's high transmissibility. 

One measles patient can infect up to 18 others in an unvaccinated community, highlighting the potential global danger. 

The surge in cases is primarily attributed to the declining vaccine coverage.

WHO estimates that only 84% of children worldwide received the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine in 2024, and even fewer, about 76%, received the second dose that is required to fully protect against measles. 

Public health experts emphasize that at least 95% full vaccination coverage is necessary for herd immunity to prevent severe outbreaks.

A WHO spokesperson emphasized clear evidence of immunity gaps, and even a small drop in coverage could create an immediate risk for a large-scale outbreak. 

These immunity gaps are appearing across all income levels, but several middle-income countries experienced the steepest increases, although high-income nations have not been spared.

For instance, Canada, which achieved measles elimination status in 2016, recently lost it due to imported cases and local transmission.

According to WHO officials, the contributing factors for the resurgence of measles are due to delayed routine childhood vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent misinformation about immunization, population displacement due to conflict, and a cut in funding to disease surveillance programs. 

Despite these concerning trends, the WHO report noted that deaths due to measles have not risen proportionally to cases. 

Mortality fell to 11% as many of the recent cases occurred in countries with more robust healthcare systems, leading to lower case-fatality rates. 

However, experts caution that relying on this pattern is dangerous, as in lower-income countries, especially in countries with malnutrition and weak medical care, measles remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable death among children. 

A pathway that the world should follow is clear: rebuild routine immunization systems, strengthen global surveillance, and secure stable funding for vaccination. 

WHO officials emphasize that the tools to eliminate measles already exist, but political commitment must not hinder them. 

Whether the world continues toward elimination or slides backward will largely depend on policy decisions made in the coming months.