Measles outbreak in Morocco: 25,000 cases and 120 deaths reported since September

MSN
Jan 21, 2025

Measles outbreak in Morocco: 25,000 cases and 120 deaths reported since September


Morocco is grappling with an unusual measles outbreak, with 25,000 cases and 120 deaths recorded since September 2023, according to health officials.

Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, described the situation as an epidemic, citing the unprecedented spread of the disease. “We previously recorded just three to four cases annually, but the current situation has been abnormal since September,” El Youbi told Hespress.

 

Most fatalities have occurred among children under five and adults over 37, El Youbi said, adding that complications from measles have been fatal for victims across all age groups.

The outbreak has been attributed to a decline in vaccination rates. Morocco had previously achieved a vaccination coverage rate exceeding 95 percent as part of a global eradication goal. However, decreased immunization levels have allowed the virus to spread widely. Measles is transmitted through contact with infected individuals, but vaccination significantly reduces the risk of infection, El Youbi noted.