Over half the world at risk of measles outbreaks, WHO warns

The rapid spread of the potentially fatal and once-eradicated disease is blamed partly on missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over half of the world will be at high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year, the World Health Organization warned.

The rapid spread of the potentially fatal and once-eradicated disease is blamed partly on missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when regular immunizations were postponed, according to WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

During a press conference on Tuesday, WHO noted a 79% increase in global measles cases from 2022, with more than 306,000 cases reported around the world last year. 

As of Feb. 15, a total of 20 measles cases were reported in Arizona, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to the CDC.

The CDC said that most of these cases were seen among children and teenagers who had not been vaccinated against measles.