2025-11-28 from cbc.ca

Measles deaths saw a huge drop this century thanks to global immunization efforts, but the number of cases surged in 2024, the World Health Organization says.

The United Nations public health body said Friday that, despite fewer deaths, cases climbed to an estimated 11 million last year, up nearly 800,000 from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Measles acts like a fire alarm for immunization programs," said Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO's director of immunization, vaccines and biologicals. "High transmissibility means even small drops in vaccine coverage can trigger outbreaks, like a fire alarm going off when smoke is detected."

Other vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough and polio are also likely to increase given gaps in routine vaccine coverage, she warned. 

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