Morocco: 25,000 measles cases and 120 deaths

Moroccan health sources have reported a measles outbreak in the country, with 25,000 cases and 120 deaths recorded since September 2023. Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, has emphasised the exceptional nature of the event in comparison to the three or four measles cases documented annually in Morocco. El Youbi further noted that the majority of fatalities occurred among children under five and adults over 37, underscoring the heightened risk for vulnerable age groups. The outbreak has been attributed to a recent decline in vaccination rates, prompting the Ministry of Health to implement a strategy to restore vaccination coverage to over 95 percent of the population. The initiative will target individuals between the ages of 9 months and 14 years, through outreach activities in schools and health centres. It has been asserted by health authorities that individuals who have not yet completed the two-dose measles vaccination programme, irrespective of their age, should do so without further ado. In instances of uncertainty, El Youbi posits that administering a third dose can be conducted with a reasonable degree of safety.