Over 109,000 People Died From Measles In 2017

In 2017, over 109,000 people around the world died from measles, and 2018 is shaping up to be just as deadly.

Kathy Calvin and Gail McGovern are on a mission to curb the number of measles-related deaths and have teamed up for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. They’ve worked together to vaccinate over 2 billion children, saving an estimated 21 millions lives, CNN reported.

“Since 2001, the start of the Measles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI), a global partnership made up of the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF, we have dedicated our efforts to eliminate not only measles, but rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), as well.” they explained to CNN.

“But now, after years of winning hard-fought battles, the current outbreaks threaten our progress,” they said. “Measles may once again become common in places previously measles-free, as fewer children are being vaccinated.”

Contracting Measles can cause not only the infected to become ill and possibly die, but can also cause financial hardship on the person or family who is caring for the sick and the sick person could develop life-long disabilities like blindness and brain swelling.

The World Health Organization Weekly Epidemiological Record shows that 109,000 vaccine-preventable deaths occurred in 2017. The WHO also recently declared that anti-vaxxers are a global health threat.