According to “Progress Toward Measles Elimination- Worldwide, 2000–2022”, a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States (US) Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 11 lakh children in India missed their Measles-containing-vaccine first-dose (MCV1) in 2022.
- Globally, India is featured among the top 10 countries with highest number of children who missed their 1st dose.
- In 2022, 37 countries that witnessed large or disruptive outbreaks where India reported around 40,967 measles.
Assessment:
The report presented the first estimates of gaps after the pandemic. It included data from 194 countries.
Top 10 countries:
i.The 10 countries with the highest number of infants who did not receive MCV1 were Nigeria (30 lakh), Democratic Republic of the Congo (18 lakh), Ethiopia (17 lakh), India (11 lakh), Pakistan (11 lakh), Angola (8 lakh), Philippines (8 lakh), Indonesia (7 lakh), Brazil (5 lakh), and Madagascar (5 lakh).
- 10 countries accounted for 55% of all children worldwide who did not receive MCV1.
Indian Scenario:
COVID-19 strain on health services resulted in decreased immunization coverage, leading to increased measles cases, notably in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
- In 2022, Maharashtra reported 13 measles-related deaths in 2022.
Global Scenario:
i.Global first-dose measles vaccination coverage increased from 72% in 2000 to 86% in 2019, declined to 81% in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and slightly improved to 83% in 2022.
- In 2022, it was still well under the 95% coverage with two doses that is necessary to protect communities from outbreaks.
iii.In 2022, only half of the 144 countries reporting measles achieved the surveillance indicator target.
iv.From 2021 to 2022, estimated measles cases increased by 18% to 9,232,300, with 37 countries experiencing large outbreaks.
v.Measles deaths rose by 43% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 136,200, despite averting 57 million deaths through vaccination from 2000 to 2022.
- However, during 2000–2022, estimated measles vaccination prevented approximately 57 million deaths worldwide.
vi.Globally, 33 million children missed a measles vaccine dose in 2022
- Nearly 22 million missed their first dose and an additional 11 million missed their second dose.
vii.Immunisation against measles worldwide reached its lowest levels since 2008 during the pandemic
Key Points:
i.Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine preventable disease. It usually causes high fever, cough, runny nose, and red rashes, complications such as brain swelling, pneumonia and breathing problems, and severe diarrhoea which may lead to death.
ii.Two doses of the measles vaccine offers 97% protection for life.
iii.The report emphasizes the need for countries to vaccinate all children against measles and other preventable diseases.
Recent Related News:
i.According to the ‘Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, June to November 2023 Outlook’ report released on May 29, 2023, by the United Nation (UN) agencies of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), globally Hunger is set to worsen in 18 ‘hotspots’ comprising a total of 22 countries including the regions in India’s neighbours countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
ii.According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s 11th edition ‘World of Work’, the global unemployment is projected to fall below pre pandemic levels to 191 million, corresponding to an unemployment rate of 5.3% in 2023.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1948
