Because of global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced measles outbreaks in 2023, the agencies noted, representing a nearly 60% increase from 36 countries in 2022. Nearly half of all outbreaks occurred in the African region, according to the WHO.

The WHO and CDC say there were about 10.3 million cases of measles last year, up 20 percent from 2022. Children are especially susceptible to complications.

More than 10.3 million people caught measles last year, a 20% increase from a year earlier, according to a joint report by the World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Reuters) - Measles cases rose 20% last year, driven by a lack of vaccine coverage in the world's poorest countries and those riddled with conflict, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday.

This alarming increase in measles cases is primarily driven by significant gaps in global immunization coverage, underscoring the urgent need for increased vaccination efforts worldwide.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which killed an estimated 107,500 people in 2023, most of whom were under 5.

Measles is making a comeback, with cases up more than 20% across the globe to more than 10.3 million over the last year, the World Health Organization and the U,S, Centers for Disease Control and Prev