national mobilization to contain the epidemic — RT in French

Since October 2023, Morocco has faced a resurgence of measles with nearly 20,000 reported cases and more than 100 deaths. Moroccan health authorities have notably launched a vaccination catch-up campaign, with a view to containing this epidemic which particularly affects children.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, is experiencing a rebound in Morocco with 20,000 cases recorded since October 2023, leading to 107 deaths, including 50% among children under 12 years old, according to figures communicated on December 30 by the ministry. of Health.

During a question session in Parliament, the Minister of Health, Amine Tahraoui, revealed an incidence rate of 52.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants of this disease, commonly called “Bouhamron” in Morocco.

The measles virus, initially detected in the Souss-Massa region, quickly spread throughout the country. According to Amine Tahraoui, this strong upsurge is largely attributable to the fall in vaccination rates following the Covid-19 pandemic. A gap in vaccination coverage which would have opened the way for the spread of the virus.

The Minister of Health insisted on the crucial importance of vaccination to counter measles. “The only way to eliminate this disease is to strengthen vaccination campaigns,” he stressed. Amine Tahraoui pointed to “vaccine hesitancy”, amplified by the coronavirus pandemic, as one of the main factors in the resurgence of this disease in the kingdom.

Measles: 107,500 worldwide, according to WHO

To deal with this crisis, Moroccan health authorities have deployed a national emergency plan, focused on a catch-up vaccination campaign intended for minors who have not received their doses. At the same time, reinforced surveillance systems have been established in order to quickly detect new cases and limit the spread of the virus.

According to the Moroccan authorities, 6 million children have been examined across the country since October 2023. As of December 20, 2024, according to the same source, 38% of them have already received the necessary vaccines to compensate to the delay.

Although vaccination against measles has prevented more than 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023, according to the WHO, the disease continues to represent a threat, particularly for unvaccinated children. In 2023, the UN agency estimates the number of deaths caused by measles to be 107,500 worldwide, mainly among children under five.

“Before vaccination against measles was introduced in 1963 and became widespread, there were major epidemics every two or three years which could cause around 2.6 million deaths each year,” underlined the WHO.