One consequence of the pandemic was reduced access to routine healthcare and lower uptake of immunisations. As a result, in November 2022, the World Health Organization declared measles to be an “imminent threat in every region of the world”. They described how a record number of nearly 40 million children had missed at least one measles vaccine dose in 2021.
Measles is a viral respiratory illness. Transmission is similar to COVID, with the spread between people being driven by respiratory droplets and aerosols (airborne transmission). The infection produces a rash and fever in mild cases.
But severe cases can include encephalitis (brain swelling), blindness and pneumonia. There are approximately 9 million cases a year and 128,000 deaths.
