According to WHO, 10.3 million cases of measles were detected worldwide in 2023. In comparison with 2022, the incidence increased by 20%. Experts call insufficient immunization of the population the reason.

Experts stressed that to prevent infection, a child should receive two doses of measles vaccine. In 2023, 22 million children did not receive even one dose of the vaccine. It is estimated that 83% of the world's children received one dose of the vaccine and only 74% received a second dose.

Experts emphasize that in order to prevent outbreaks of infection and protect the population in each country, the coverage of children with two doses of the vaccine should be 95% or higher.

The result of insufficient immunization coverage against measles in 2023 was a major outbreak of infection in 57 countries around the world, which affected all WHO regions except the Americas. The number of countries with outbreaks has increased by 60% over the year.

In 2023, 107,500 people died from measles, mostly children under the age of five. And although the figure decreased by 8% compared to last year, experts noted that the disease is still causing the death of too many children. The slight decrease in the number of deaths is due to the fact that outbreaks of infection occurred more often in countries and regions where children are less likely to die from measles due to better nutrition and access to medical care.