Falling vaccination rates are fueling outbreaks of one of the world’s most contagious diseases, even in wealthy countries.
Measles is once again spreading rapidly around the world, with around 11 million people expected to contract the disease in 2026, amid warnings that declining vaccination rates are bringing one of the most highly contagious diseases back to the forefront, even in countries with advanced healthcare systems.
The World Health Organization estimates that most cases will be concentrated in Africa and Asia, but countries in Europe and the Americas are also reporting outbreaks affecting hundreds or thousands of people.
The main problem, according to health experts, is the decline in vaccination rates. Measles is so highly contagious that communities need vaccination coverage of more than 95 percent to provide the level of protection required to prevent outbreaks, while two doses of the vaccine are recommended to enhance its effectiveness.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in the fight against the disease, after vaccine supply chains and access to clinics were disrupted around the world.
Most children in wealthy countries were able to catch up on missed doses before reaching school age, but millions of children in lower-income countries have yet to receive the recommended routine vaccinations and are classified as what are known as "zero-dose children."
In Europe, an average of around 94 percent of children have received one dose of the measles vaccine, but this falls to around 88 percent for two doses. In low- and middle-income countries, only around 80 percent of young children receive at least one dose, and around 70 percent receive both doses.
Bangladesh stands out as one of the most concerning outbreak hotspots, recording more measles cases in 2026 than any other country, with more than 900 people dying from the infection.
The situation there is linked to a number of factors, including political instability, vaccine shortages and changes in procurement mechanisms, as well as the financial pressures facing the global vaccine alliance Gavi.
Despite a mass vaccination campaign launched in early 2026 that covered more than one million children in Bangladesh, vaccination coverage remains well below the 95 percent threshold required to prevent widespread outbreaks.
The problem is not limited to low-income countries. Canada officially lost its measles-free status in November 2025 after the virus continued to spread for more than a year, while the United States and Mexico are also at risk of losing this classification.
The United States has already recorded more measles cases in 2026 than in any year since 1991, with some outbreaks linked to declining vaccination rates in certain local communities.
Guatemala, meanwhile, has recorded more than 30,000 confirmed cases during the year, the highest total in the Americas, according to the article.
There is no specific treatment for measles, but vaccines have proven effective and safe in preventing the disease. Unvaccinated people who contract measles face a risk of severe complications that can lead to hearing or vision loss and even death. The risk is higher among people suffering from malnutrition or those unable to access supportive medical care.
The world had made significant progress in reducing the disease, with the estimated annual number of cases falling from around 38 million in 2000 to nearly 10 million in 2019. But this trend reversed after the coronavirus pandemic, alongside declining vaccination rates in some communities and a rise in the number of countries experiencing outbreaks.
Experts believe that containing the resurgence of measles requires two parallel approaches: providing funding and vaccines to countries facing supply shortages and strengthening confidence in vaccination in countries where vaccines are available but uptake is declining.
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