Measles outbreaks continue to spread rapidly around the world, according to the latest preliminary reports released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 12, "with millions of people worldwide at risk of contracting the disease." To date, nearly three times as many cases have been reported as at this time last year, and the increase has been progressive since 2016, which is deeply worrying.
According to the WHO's statement, in the first six months of 2019, reported measles cases are the highest in any year since 2006, with outbreaks overwhelming health care systems and causing severe illness, disability, and death in many parts of the world.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Ukraine have reported the highest number of cases this year. However, cases have declined dramatically in Madagascar in recent months as a result of national emergency measles vaccination campaigns, highlighting the effectiveness of vaccination in ending outbreaks and protecting health.
Meanwhile, major outbreaks are occurring in Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, and Thailand. In countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia, where the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God has two hospitals, two clinics, and a nursing school, maternal and child care services are provided, including early vaccination against diseases such as measles. Juan Ciudad NGOD has collaborated with these centers for more than 25 years through cooperation and development projects, volunteering, and logistical support.
WHO cautions that the new measles surveillance data available on the WHO website are preliminary and based on monthly country reports. The final official annual totals will be available in July 2020 through joint WHO and UNICEF reporting channels.
News article edited by Adriana Casto, Communications Manager for Juan Ciudad NGO.
More information: https://www.who.int/immunization/monitoring_surveillance/burden/vpd/surveillance_type/active/measles_monthlydata/en/
Source: WHO. https://www.who.int/immunization/newsroom/new-measles-data-august-2019/en/
