The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported on Friday that 21 African countries have declared measles outbreaks, marking a significant resurgence of a disease preventable through routine vaccination.
The announcement, made from Africa CDC’s headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, underscores growing gaps in immunization coverage across the continent, despite decades of progress in reducing measles-related mortality. Measles, one of the most contagious viral diseases known to humans, can lead to severe complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, particularly in unvaccinated children under five.
According to Africa CDC data, the outbreaks span multiple regions, with concentrated clusters reported in East and West Africa. The agency did not specify which countries are affected in its initial statement but emphasized that the number of reported cases has risen sharply compared to the same period in previous years, reversing gains made during intensified vaccination campaigns between 2010 and 2020.
Public health officials attribute the resurgence to disruptions in routine immunization services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts in several regions, and vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation. In some areas, health systems remain strained, limiting outreach to remote and underserved communities where vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% threshold needed to prevent community transmission.
Africa CDC has called for urgent national response plans, including reactive vaccination campaigns, enhanced surveillance, and community engagement to rebuild trust in vaccines. The agency is coordinating with the World Health Organization and UNICEF to support affected countries with technical assistance, vaccine supplies, and cold chain logistics.
The current situation mirrors broader concerns about declining immunization rates globally, with the WHO and UNICEF warning in 2023 that over 61 million children missed at least one dose of measles vaccine during the pandemic years — the largest sustained backslide in childhood immunization in nearly three decades.
As of Friday, Africa CDC had not released a detailed breakdown of cases by country or age group, nor had it specified the exact date when the 21st country declared its outbreak. The agency said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as data becomes available from member states through its regional collaborating centres.
