In a recent report, it has been highlighted that measles cases experienced a concerning 18% surge in 2022, coupled with a staggering 43% increase in deaths globally. This sharp rise, in comparison to 2021, is a distressing reversal of the declining trend in vaccination coverage observed in previous years.
The joint report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the estimated number of measles cases has now reached 9 million, with deaths soaring to 136,000, predominantly affecting children.
Regrettably, Pakistan finds itself among the 10 countries, for the second consecutive year, grappling with the highest number of infants who did not receive the MCV1, denoting the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine. This group of 10 nations collectively accounted for 55% of all children worldwide who missed out on MCV1, pointing to a critical global health challenge.
