UNICEF issued a warning as Measles infections soared over the world in the first two months of 2022. About 17,338 measles cases were reported in January and February 2022 worldwide, compared to 9,665 in the first two months of 2021.

Measles is very contagious, and cases tend to emerge fast when vaccination rates drop. 21 significant and disruptive measles outbreaks have been reported around the world in the previous 12 months as of April 2022.

Countries with the most measles epidemics include Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia. The main cause of measles outbreaks is insufficient measles vaccine coverage. 95% coverage with two doses of the safe and effective measles vaccination can protect children against measles.

However, the UN agency warned that Covid-related disruptions in routine immunization and Covid-19 vaccination programmes, as well as a shortage of clean water and sanitation, raise the risk of vaccine-preventable disease epidemics. Because the measles virus impairs the immune system, children are more susceptible to other infectious diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea.

According to UNICEF, in 2020, 23 million children missed out on fundamental childhood immunizations due to a lack of access to routine health care. Since the start of the pandemic, 57 vaccine-preventable disease programmes in 43 countries have been kept on hold, with 19 of them being measles campaigns, putting 73 million children at risk of contracting the disease owing to missed immunizations. (ET Healthworld, April 28, 2022)