The World Health Organization and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund are warning about a heightened risk of measles spreading and triggering larger outbreaks this year.
Worldwide cases are up nearly 80% so far over last year, the groups reported. More than 17,300 measles cases were reported worldwide in January and February, as compared with 9600 cases at the beginning of 2021.
In the last 12 months, there have been 21 "large and disruptive" measles outbreaks, particularly in Africa and the East Mediterranean region. The actual numbers are likely higher due to underreporting and disruptions to surveillance systems.
"Pandemic-related disruptions, increasing inequalities in access to vaccines, and the diversion of resources from routine immunization are leaving too many children without protection against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases," the organizations said.
As cities and countries relax COVID-19 restrictions, measles outbreaks are becoming more likely, they noted.
"It is encouraging that people in many communities are beginning to feel protected enough from COVID-19 to return to more social activities. But doing so in places where children are not receiving routine vaccination creates the perfect storm for the spread of a disease like measles," Catherine Russell, executive director for UNICEF, said in the statement.
