Why millions of people around the world will contract measles in 2026

The World Health Organization estimates nearly 11 million people will contract measles in 2026, concentrated in Africa and Asia but with outbreaks also reported across Europe and the Americas.

Herd immunity requires vaccination rates above 95%, a threshold most high-income countries meet but many low- and middle-income nations fall well short of, partly due to pandemic-era disruptions that left millions of children with zero doses.

Bangladesh has reported the most cases and over 900 deaths this year, a crisis worsened by a botched attempt to bypass UNICEF procurement and by funding cuts to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, after the U.S. and several European nations reduced development aid budgets.

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