The widespread vaccination against measles was once considered a global public health victory, but the disease is now surging around the world once again. A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, published November 28, shows that global measles deaths fell 88% between 2000 and 2024, saving an estimated 58 million lives. But that progress is now in jeopardy as vaccine coverage drops far below the level needed to stop the virus from spreading.
Fifty-nine countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks last year—nearly three times the number seen in 2021. Even nations previously declared measles-free, including Canada and the United States, are now experiencing significant resurgences. Canada has already lost its elimination status, and WHO officials say the US is at risk of losing it too.
The WHO report warns that “global measles elimination remains a distant goal,” pointing to shrinking resources for immunization and disease surveillance, including reduced US funding for global health. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already recorded 1,798 confirmed cases this year, the highest since the country first achieved elimination in 2000. Globally, more than 30 million children were under-protected against measles in 2024 alone.
These numbers help explain why measles—one of the world’s most contagious illnesses—is now surging again. In the European Union, 35,000 cases have been reported since 2024, and in the United States, where the virus was eliminated in 2000, it is reemerging amid rising vaccine hesitancy and growing clusters of under-vaccinated communities.
Click through to learn how measles spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how to stay protected.