WHO concerned about impact measles outbreaks having on efforts to eradicate virus

CAPE TOWN - The World Health Organization (WHO) says it's concerned about the impact measles outbreaks around the world are having on its goal to eradicate one of the world's oldest viruses. 

Marking the start of Immunisation Week on Wednesday and 50 years of its global immunisation campaign, the WHO said measles cases went up by 70% last year. 

Its vaccination partners have also raised concern about the impact of countries' cutbacks in health spending on the strides made over the decades in ensuring every child is vaccinated. 

South Africa is among the countries which has in the past two years also reported measles outbreaks in several provinces.

The WHO says through vaccination, it's working hard to eradicate polio, meningitis, malaria and measles. 

But the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted immunisation campaigns, coupled with the spread of misinformation about vaccines. 

WHO director of immunisations, Kate O'Brien, says in 2022, 136,000 children died from measles. 

The data for 2023 is still being processed. 

"There has been very significant backsliding in the use of the measles vaccine and the coverage that's been achieved in countries around the world." 

Last year, 50 countries reported disruptive measles outbreaks, more than double the two prior years. 

"There is certainly a role of the misinformation of the measles vaccine that is playing into people's decision about whether or not to receive the vaccine." 

The WHO says while it's an old and preventable disease, measles remains highly contagious and as many as 40 people can be infected by a single case.