Global measles cases drop 71% in 24 years as vaccination coverage improves, WHO says

A vial of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is pictured at the Taber Community Health Centre in Taber, Alta., Monday, July 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Global measles cases fell 71 per cent to 11 million from the year 2000 to 2024, driven by improved vaccination coverage, the World Health Organization said in a report on Friday.

Vaccination has prevented nearly 59 million deaths globally during this period, according to the report.

Deaths dropped even more sharply by 88 per cent to 95,000 in 2024, among the lowest annual tolls since 2000.

However, estimated cases in 2024 rose 8 per cent, while deaths dropped 11 per cent, compared with 2019 pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a shift in disease burden from low-income to middle-income countries, which have lower fatality ratios, the report said.

Measles is often the first disease to see a resurgence when vaccination coverage drops, the agency said, adding that growing measles outbreaks expose weaknesses in immunization programs and health systems.

Due to its high transmissibility, “even small drops in vaccine coverage can trigger outbreaks, like a fire alarm going off when smoke is detected,” said Kate O’Brien, director of the Department of Immunization at WHO.

Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore, Reuters