• The number of measles deaths globally increased by 43% from 2021-2022, following years of declining vaccination rates, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The report noted that in 2022, 37 countries experienced large or disruptive measles outbreaks compared with 22 countries in 2021.
• Of these, 28 were in the WHO Region for Africa, six in the Eastern Mediterranean, two in the South-East Asia, and one in the European Region, WHO said.
  • According to the report, an estimated 11 lakh children in India missed their crucial first dose of measles vaccine in 2022.

ABOUT MEASLES

• Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus.
• It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
• It can affect anyone but is most common in children.
• It infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.
• Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body.
  • Complications such as brain swelling, pneumonia and breathing problems, and severe diarrhoea may lead to death.
• It can cause severe complications, and even death.
• Measles is preventable with two doses of MR (measles rubella) vaccine.
• Two doses of the measles vaccine offers 97% protection for life.
  • The protection is likely to be weaker with a single dose.