Why are global cases of measles rising?
Measles is a childhood disease which can be deadly. We鈥檝e been vaccinating against it for decades. But cases around the world are rising. Can this trend be reversed?
鈥淢easles is back, and it鈥檚 a wake-up call,鈥 proclaimed one regional director from the World Health Organisation who went on to add, 鈥渨ithout high vaccination rates, there is no health security.鈥
Measles is a childhood disease which can be deadly. We鈥檝e been successfully vaccinating against it for decades. So much so that many younger physicians have never seen a child with the disease. But recently, the recorded number of cases has been rising - and this is a global trend.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to man. In an unvaccinated population it will spread like wildfire. So what鈥檚 behind the rapid rise of measles cases around the world? According to one of our expert witnesses it comes down to three Cs: complacency, convenience and confidence.
In this edition of the Inquiry, Sandra Kanthal looks into what鈥檚 causing the rise in measles cases around the world and asks how this trend can be reversed.
Contributors:
Doctor Claudia Cojocaru 鈥 Romanian physician and neonatologist
Robb Butler - Director of the Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health: World Health Organisation
Dr Benjamin Kasstan-Dabush -Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Fatima Cengic, Regional Immunization Specialist, Europe and Central Asia: UNICEF
Presenter: Sandra Kanthal
Production: Katie Morgan
Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey
Technical Producer: James Beard
Editor: Tara McDermott
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The Inquiry
The Inquiry explores the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world