In context

Measles kills more than 200,000 people each year – mostly children aged under five – although a cheap and effective vaccine has existed for over half a century.

An estimated 136,000 people died from measles in 2023, and the majority were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under five years old. Weak public immunization systems in some conflict-affected countries and record-high numbers of displaced people living in close quarters continue to fuel outbreaks. 

The disease is extremely contagious, yet easily preventable with two doses of a vaccine. MSF has vaccinated over 30 million children against measles since 2006. Outbreaks are fuelled by weak public immunisation systems and low vaccination coverage, including in areas of conflict and among high numbers of people living in close quarters, such as refugee camps.

 

Quick facts about measles

MSF Emergency Response DRC Measles: Refrigerated boxes keep vaccines cool for the measles vaccination campaign in the Ingende health zone, Equateur province.  As in many other areas of this province, a major challenge is to reach all the health areas, because of the impassability of the roads. To meet this challenge, MSF has made motorbikes and motorised pirogues available to reach the most remote communities.
No one should be left out when it comes to measles, as the virus will continue to spread. Dr Thomas Holebanga, leader of the MSF intervention in Ingende
Democratic Republic of Congo

DRC: MSF Emergency Team Responds to Measles Outbreak in Equateur Province

How MSF responds
A child is vaccinated against measles.
Islam, 6 years old, is one the first children to get vaccinated against measles as part this vaccination campaign carried out by MSF in Adré transit camp on  08 July, 2024. Our team vaccinated children and teenagers, from 6 months to 14 years, both from the refugee camp and from the surrounding host communities. In Chad, measles outbreaks remain recurrent.
© Thibault Fendler/MSF
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How MSF responds to measles

Vaccination is the best protection against measles. Even after the disease has started to spread, immunising at-risk populations can still reduce the number of infections and deaths. MSF responds to the threat of measles epidemics by conducting mass vaccination campaigns for vulnerable children (about 80 percent of our measles vaccination activity) and providing routine vaccination as part of paediatric care, both in emergency settings and in areas where government immunization systems do not function. During outbreaks we also provide supportive care for infected children, to prevent complications from becoming fatal.

Measles_disease
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How you can help

MEASLES IS A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE CAN CAUSE DEADLY EPIDEMICS.

The World Health Organization estimates that measles cases in Africa rose 700 percent between 2018 and 2019.

In low-income countries, when measles is combined with malnutrition or malaria, it’s effects can be devastating. But, thanks to a safe, cheap and effective vaccine, measles is a preventable disease.

In Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, supply and cold chain issues and a lack of staff and resources have all affected recent vaccination campaigns. As a result, epidemics that broke out in 2018 continue to claim lives.

Taking action in contexts like these necessitates a series of strategic decisions.

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