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Measles cases up 300% worldwide in 2019-WHO
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- Declining global vaccination rates:(1) Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented with a two-dose vaccine, but for some time the there has been decline in global vaccination rates.(2) The disease has spread fast among clusters of unvaccinated people.
- Sustained rises in cases: Many countries are in the midst of sizeable measles outbreaks, with all regions of the world experiencing sustained rises in cases.
- Increase even in high overall vaccination coverage countries:(1) Spikes in case numbers have also occurred in countries with high overall vaccination coverage, including the United States.(2) Israel, Thailand and Tunisia have also experienced alarming outbreaks among unvaccinated groups, despite generally high levels of vaccination coverage.
- Reasons for the fall in vaccination rates:(1) Supply problems and conflicts in some parts of the world.(2) Spread of anti-vaccine misinformation which leading “vaccine hesitancy”.(3) Internet- It has spread conspiracy theories and anti-pharmaceutical industry stories across Europe, where there has been major declines in immunisation rates.(4) Populist politician’s claims- In some countries, including Italy and France, populist politicians have championed the right of parents not to vaccinate a child – even though 95% immunisation is necessary to prevent vulnerable children.
- concern over Africa:(1) Africa has less vaccine coverage than other regions.(2) WHO says its Africa region had the biggest rise in cases in the last three months compared with the same time last year – a 700% increase.
Source
The Hindu