LONDON (AP) — Measles deaths globally spiked by more than 40% last year and cases rose after vaccination levels dramatically dropped during the pandemic, leading health agencies said Thursday.
The highly infectious disease triggered epidemics in 37 countries last year, versus 22 countries in 2021.
“The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we’ve seen in the past few years,” said CDC's John Vertefeuille, said in a statement.
Two doses of the measles vaccine are highly protective against the disease.
___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.
Persons:
”, CDC's John Vertefeuille, Andrew Wakefield
Organizations:
World Health Organization, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, WHO, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP
Locations:
Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, India, British, London