Measles: Why are we still losing lives to a preventable disease in 2024?
Despite a highly effective vaccine, measles caused approximately 95,000 deaths globally in 2024, primarily among unvaccinated children under five. Vaccination has prevented millions of deaths since 2000, yet first-dose coverage in 2024 slightly declined to 84%. Measles is extremely contagious, spreading through airborne droplets and leading to severe complications like blindness and pneumonia.