Marrakesh Struggles with Measles Outbreak, Over 100 Dead Since October 2023
Morocco is grappling with a severe measles outbreak that has claimed the lives of 107 people since October 2023, with children being disproportionately affected. This alarming situation was revealed by Morocco’s Minister of Health, Amine Tahraoui, during a parliamentary session.
With over 50% of the victims being under 12 years old, a total of 19,515 measles cases have been reported across the country, translating to 52.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Tahraoui described the situation as critical, blaming the sharp decline in vaccination rates during and after the COVID-19 pandemic for the swift spread of the disease.
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To combat the outbreak, the Moroccan government has implemented a strategic plan focused on bolstering vaccination rates. The goal is to vaccinate at least 95% of the population with two doses of the measles vaccine. Mass vaccination campaigns are being organized for children who have missed their vaccinations, particularly those born between 2020 and 2023. Additionally, efforts are being made to improve the system for quickly detecting and containing new infections.
In collaboration with the ministries of Education and Interior, a large-scale vaccination campaign was launched on October 28, 2024, initially planned for four weeks but extended due to its success. By December 20, 2024, nearly 6 million children under 18 had been screened, representing 54.7% of the target population. A total of 138,000 doses of measles and mumps vaccine were administered during this period.
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Despite these concerted efforts, eradicating measles remains a significant challenge, according to Tahraoui. The spread of misinformation, especially on social media, is hindering vaccination campaigns. Additionally, underreporting of cases in remote areas is a concern due to low vaccination rates, resulting in insufficient herd immunity. The minister emphasized that measles is becoming an increasingly global problem due to declining vaccination rates worldwide.
