Measles Cases, Deaths Soared Globally In 2019; Experts Concerned About Vaccination Rates Amid COVID-19

Bloomberg: Measles Cases Reach 23-Year High, Killing More Than 200,000
“Measles cases reached the highest level in 23 years in 2019 and health authorities warned that many countries aren’t vaccinating enough people amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The global total for confirmed measles infections rose to 869,770 last year, the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control said in a report released Thursday. The number of deaths soared by 50% compared with a low reached in 2016. The percentage of people who have received a first measles shot has stagnated in recent years and the coronavirus pandemic is now lowering vaccination rates by halting immunization campaigns, putting 94 million people at risk, according to the WHO…” (Mulier, 11/12).

Additional coverage of the new measles data is available from AP, The Hill, New York Times, Reuters, and U.N. News.

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