Although global immunisation efforts have led to an 88% drop in measles deaths in the past 25 years, measles cases are surging worldwide, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Last year, 59 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks – almost triple that in  2021 and the highest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were an estimated 11 million infections in 2024, which is nearly 800,000 more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The measles cases increased by 86% in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, 47% in the European Region, and 42% in the South-East Asian Region in 2024, when compared with 2019. 

However, the African Region experienced a 40% decline in cases and 50% decline in deaths over this period, partly due to increased immunisation.

“All regions except the Americas had at least one country experiencing a large outbreak in 2024. The situation changed in 2025 with numerous countries in the Americas battling outbreaks,” according to the WHO media release.

The WHO also highlighted that “deep funding cuts” to country immunisation programmes and the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLN), which tests samples, may “drive further outbreaks in the coming year”.

More than 30 million children were under-protected against measles in 2024 – three-quarters of them in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, often in fragile, conflict-affected or vulnerable settings.

Around 84% of children received their first dose of the measles vaccine last year, and only 76% received the second, according to estimates by the WHO and UNICEF.

At least 95% coverage with two measles vaccine doses is required to stop transmission and protect communities from outbreaks.

“Measles has resurged in recent years, even in high-income countries that once eliminated it, because immunization rates have dropped below the 95% threshold,” according to the WHO.

“Even when overall coverage is high nationally, pockets of unvaccinated communities with lower coverage rates can leave people at risk and result in outbreaks and ongoing transmission.

“To achieve measles elimination, strong political commitment and sustained investment is

needed to ensure all children receive two doses of the measles vaccine and surveillance systems.”

The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) Mid-Term Review, also released on Friday, stresses that measles is often the first disease to resurge when vaccination coverage drops.

Growing measles outbreaks are exposing weaknesses in immunization programmes and health systems globally, and threatening progress towards IA2030 targets, including measles elimination.

By the end of 2024, 81 countries (42%) had eliminated measles. In 2025, 96 countries had eleiminated measles with the addition of Pacific island countries, Cabo Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles. 

While the Region of the Americas regained measles elimination status in 2024, it lost this status again in November 2025 due to ongoing transmission in Canada.

Image Credits: WHO/John Kisimir.