The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported a significant surge in measles cases worldwide, with an alarming 300% rise during the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period from the previous year. This recent outbreak primarily affects children across both developed and developing nations and can largely be attributed to factors such as the anti-vaccination movement, poverty, and vaccine hesitancy.
Anti-Vaccination Movement: A Major Contributor to Rising Measles Cases
Notably, measles cases in developed nations rose due to the growth of the anti-vaccine movement in parts of Europe and the United States. This trend is predominantly driven by misleading claims linking measles vaccinations to an increase in autism risks in children, despite numerous studies debunking any such links.
The Impact of Poverty on Measles Outbreak
In less wealthy nations, a lower rate of vaccinations leads to a larger portion of the population becoming susceptible to the virus, presenting favorable conditions for widespread outbreaks like those seen in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kyrgyzstan, and Madagascar.
Vaccine Hesitancy: An Emerging Global Health Threat
Vaccine hesitancy—which represents the delay or refusal of vaccines despite vaccination service availability—has also contributed significantly to the rise in measles cases. WHO recognized vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health in 2019. Some of the reasons for this include people’s unfamiliarity with vaccine-preventable diseases, lack of trust in public health agencies and corporations, and misconceptions about vaccines’ adverse health outcomes.
| Reasons for Vaccine Hesitancy |
|---|
| Compulsory nature of vaccines perceived as state interference |
| Temporal adverse health outcomes due to vaccination |
| Unfamiliarity with vaccine-preventable diseases |
| Lack of trust in corporations and public health agencies |
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy
Identifying and addressing vaccine-hesitant subgroups, alongside educating health care providers on best immunization practices and raising awareness among children, youth, and adults about the importance of immunization, are all crucial steps towards mitigating vaccine hesitancy.
Understanding Measles
The measles virus is an enveloped, ribonucleic acid virus which belongs to the Morbillivirus genus. The virus, which is highly contagious, infects the respiratory tract before spreading throughout the body. It is known to be transmitted from infected individuals to more than 90% of unprotected close contacts. Currently, no specific antiviral treatment exists for measles. However, severe complications can be prevented through adequate medical care, nutrition, fluid intake, and dehydration treatment.
Preventing Measles
Complete prevention of measles is possible through a two-dose vaccine. Routine measles vaccination for children, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with high case and death rates, are key strategies to reduce global measles deaths. Recognizing this, various global initiatives have been launched to combat the virus.
The Measles & Rubella Initiative
For instance, the Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&R Initiative), launched in 2001, is a global partnership led by organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and WHO. The initiative is dedicated to ensuring no child dies from measles or is born with congenital rubella syndrome.
India: High Measles Incidence but Significant Progress
India, which has one of the highest incidences of measles in the world, recorded over 68,000 confirmed cases in 2018. However, it’s also made significant progress, with a reduction in measles-related deaths from a staggering 100,000 in 2000 to 49,000 in 2015.
Government Initiatives in India
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination programme in 2017. The initiative, one of the largest of its kind, aims to vaccinate around 410 million children nationwide. Other initiatives include the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Mission Indradhanush, and Intensified Mission Indradhanush.
