At a glance
Measles can easily cross borders and cause outbreaks in any community where people are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. Data on measles outbreaks are updated each month.
About measles outbreaks
An outbreak means more disease is occurring than expected
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. Measles outbreaks occur in areas where people are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated (missing one or both doses of the measles vaccine).
Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere
Because measles is so contagious, it can easily cross borders. In 2022, an estimated 9 million people were infected with measles. Right now, measles outbreaks are happening in every region of the world. Anyone who is not protected against measles can get measles while abroad and easily spread it to others when they return home.
Although measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, almost 1,300 cases of measles were reported in 31 states in the U.S. in 2019, the greatest number since 1992. The 2019 U.S. measles outbreaks were all linked to travel-related cases that reached at-risk populations (un- or under vaccinated against measles) in the United States.
Top 10 countries with measles outbreaks
| Country | Number of Cases |
|---|---|
| Iraq | 24,191 |
| Ethiopia | 20,291 |
| Kazakhstan | 18,250 |
| Pakistan | 18,129 |
| Yemen | 14,097 |
| India | 13,172 |
| Russian Federation | 11,889 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 9,876 |
| Romania | 9,223 |
| Azerbaijan | 8,570 |
This table is based on provisional monthly surveillance data reported to the World Health Organization (Geneva) as of September 2024. The data reflected covers February 2024 - July 2024.
- About the image: A little boy stands near his home in Makoko, a hard-to-reach settlement along a river in Nigeria. He was infected with measles but has since recovered. ©UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0669658/Owoicho