Introduction

A recent UN report says cases of measles increased significantly in Yemen in the first half of this year after nearly 26,000 cases were reported, most of them in Houthi-controlled areas.

UN Report on Measles Outbreak in Yemen

A United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report on recent humanitarian developments in Yemen states: “Yemen is experiencing an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles. From the beginning of 2023 to June 22, a total of 25,935 suspected measles cases were reported, including 1,406 laboratory-confirmed cases and 259 deaths across all governorates.”

Risks Associated with Lack of Vaccination

The report added that this number represents more than 96% of the total number of cases reported during 2022.

He pointed out that 88% of children who were suspected of having measles did not receive a single dose of the vaccine, while this situation could have been prevented if these children had received two or three doses of measles vaccine.

The suspension of awareness and vaccination campaigns in areas controlled by the Houthi group and its placement in health centers since the beginning of this year has left thousands of children most vulnerable, the report said, “and reluctance to be vaccinated due to the group’s intense misinformation campaigns against vaccines has led to an increase in the spread of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Decline in Routine Vaccination Coverage

He stressed that routine vaccination coverage declined in 2023, including for measles, which was down 69% from the target at the end of April, as a total of 224,000 children received only the first dose of measles vaccine, a 10% decrease compared to the same period in 2022. In addition to increasing rates of malnutrition, all of this set the stage for a larger and more severe measles outbreak, leading to an increase in child deaths.