At a glance
Measles can easily cross borders and cause outbreaks in any community where people are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated (missing one or both doses of the measles vaccine). Data on measles outbreaks are updated each month.
About measles outbreaks
An outbreak means more disease is occurring than expected
Measles is one of the most contagious human diseases known.
Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere
Because measles is so contagious, it can easily cross borders. In 2023, an estimated 10.3 million people were infected with measles. Right now, measles outbreaks are happening in every region of the world. Anyone who is not protected against measles can get measles while abroad and easily spread it to others when they return home.
Although measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, measles cases and outbreaks continue to occur in the United States due to unvaccinated international travelers. Large measles outbreaks are possible when travel-related measles cases reach at-risk U.S. populations with low immunization against measles. In 2019, the U.S. nearly lost its elimination status with almost 1,300 measles cases from a large outbreak in New York and cases in 30 additional states. After a decrease in global measles incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic, measles activity globally and in the United States continues to rise.
Top 10 countries with measles outbreaks
| Country | Number of Cases |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | 14,391 |
| Iraq | 8,983 |
| Ethiopia | 8,773 |
| Russian Federation | 8,662 |
| India | 8,540 |
| Kazakhstan | 6,620 |
| Romania | 5,823 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 5,207 |
| Afghanistan | 4,924 |
| Thailand | 4,596 |
This table is based on provisional monthly surveillance data reported to the World Health Organization (Geneva) as of November 2024. The data reflected covers April 2024 - September 2024.
- About the image: A little boy stands near his home in Makoko, a hard-to-reach settlement along a river in Nigeria. He was infected with measles but has since recovered. ©UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0669658/Owoicho