Measles is debilitating and deadly, and cases are surging, WHO and CDC warn
CNNCNN — Global measles cases surged by more than 20% to an estimated 10.3 million last year, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. Globally, about 83% of children got their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023, and only 74% got their recommended second dose, the health organizations said. General symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash of red spots, but measles can also leave people with lifelong health problems, particularly infants and children. “To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live.” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told CNN’s Meg Tirrell on Wednesday that she doesn’t want to see the world go backwards just to remind people that vaccines work.