Measles Surging Amid Pandemic-Related Delays Of Childhood Vaccines

CIDRAP: WHO: Worldwide Measles Cases Up 79% In 2022
The WHO today is warning of a perfect storm for measles resurgence, due to a 79% increase in the first 2 months of 2022 and pandemic-related disruptions in routine childhood vaccination. In addition to pandemic-related disruptions, the WHO said millions of displaced people due to conflicts and crises in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Somalia and Afghanistan, could also result in a significant increase in measles cases. (4/27)

CNN: 'Perfect Storm' Of Disease Ahead With Vaccines Delayed And Measles Cases Up, WHO And UNICEF Say
The World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund warned of an increased risk of measles spread, with worldwide cases up nearly 80% so far in 2022 compared with 2021. "Almost 17,338 measles cases were reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9,665 during the first two months of 2021," the organizations said in a news release on Wednesday, noting there were 21 "large and disruptive" outbreaks, many in Africa and the East Mediterranean region. (Langmaid, 4/27)

ABC News: Measles Outbreaks Possible Amid 'Perfect Storm' Of Conditions, WHO And UNICEF Warn
The World Health Organization and UNICEF are warning of a "perfect storm" of circumstances fueling the potential for large-scale measles outbreaks, underscoring worrying signs of increased risk as infections around the globe this year are far above what they were this time last year. In the first two months of 2022, reported measles cases worldwide increased by nearly 80%, compared to the same timeframe in 2021, the organizations said in a joint news release, adding that conditions are "ripe" for serious outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable illness. (Pezenik, 4/27)

And a study sheds light on the global death rate of children —

NPR: Death Rate Of Children After Hospitalization Called 'Astronomically High'
Around the world, the death rate of children has been dropping dramatically. Where 1 in 11 children under 5 years old died in 1990, it was 1 in 27 children in 2020. The total number was 12.6 million in 1990 and 6 million in 2020, according to the World Health Organization. But a new study in The Lancet Global Health points out an underlying tragedy among the childhood deaths that do occur today. Too many are coming after children have been treated and often discharged from hospitals. (Silberner, 4/27)

In global news about covid —

Bloomberg: EU Covid Cases Won't All Be Counted In Move To Embrace New Pandemic Phase
The European Union acknowledged that the pandemic is moving into a new phase in which governments no longer need to count every case but shift toward a sustainable approach that tracks variants and bolsters vaccine-production capacity. The bloc plans to conduct more limited testing intended to keep tabs on the virus and its variants, the European Union said Wednesday. (Hernanz Lizarraga, 4/27)

Reuters: EU Estimates Up To 80% Of Population Has Had COVID
The European Commission said that between 60% and 80% of the EU population was estimated to have been infected with COVID-19, as the bloc enters a post-emergency phase in which mass reporting of cases was no longer necessary. In preparing for this less acute phase, European Union governments should ramp up COVID-19 immunisations of children, the bloc's executive body said, signallingit was considering plans to develop antivirals. (Guarascio, 4/27)

CIDRAP: Global COVID Deaths Drop To Lowest Since Early Pandemic Months 
Weekly COVID-19 deaths dropped to the lowest level since March 2020, signaling an encouraging development that should be seen through a cautious lens, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday at a briefing. ... Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said cases and deaths continue to drop, with just over 15,000 deaths reported to the WHO last week, which he said is the lowest weekly total since March 2020. (Schnirring, 4/27)