Second Child Death Amid US Measles Outbreak Sparks Global Concern: Is India Prepared?
The United States is in the grip of one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades. As of early April, at least 631 cases have been reported across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Tragically, two children — both unvaccinated — have died in Texas alone, according to CNN.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed the most recent child death in west Texas, and acknowledged the federal response, including support from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention to manage the outbreak. Texas alone has reported over 480 measles cases, with a significant number among children and teenagers, CNN reported. Nearly all of these cases are in unvaccinated individuals.
Paediatric health experts have reiterated the need to close the immunisation gap immediately, a CNN report noted, quoting two doctors. One of the doctors, Dr Ashish Jha, warned that “undervaccinated pockets of children are like dry timber waiting to be lit on fire”. Even a small drop in vaccination coverage can rapidly lead to explosive outbreaks, he added.
In 2024, only 68.5% of US children had received their first dose of the MMR vaccine by 15 months of age — well below the 95% threshold needed to prevent community spread, according to a Truveta health analytics report quoted by CNN.
While this is a crisis in the US, the warning signs are deeply relevant to India.
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India’s Immunisation Imperative
India, despite its longstanding Universal ImmuniSation Programme (UIP), has also faced pockets of under-vaccination.
India has witnessed measles outbreaks in recent years as well. According to UNICEF, India accounted for nearly half of all global measles deaths in 2022. Several states continue to report sporadic cases and clusters, particularly in urban slums and underserved rural areas.
The Government of India’s UIP includes the MMR vaccine, but gaps remain due to logistical barriers, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“India cannot afford to be complacent,” said an official statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in late 2023 after a spike in cases in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
A 2023 research paper noted, “As India continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic after more than 44 million cumulative cases, an upsurge in cases of measles has been reported in multiple states across the country, particularly in the state of Maharashtra. This new rise in cases is of significant concern as, last year, India led the highest number of Global Measles Outbreaks. A total of 32,069 suspected and confirmed measles cases were reported to the World Health Organization from July to December 2022. Of these, 10,416 confirmed cases and 40 deaths have been reported in the country between November 2022 and 12 December 2022, with the state of Maharashtra contributing to the highest number of cases.”
The paper was published jointly by Dr Akshay Raut of the Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai, and a scholar from the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH), Nagasaki University, Japan.
According to the National Family Health Survey-5, while immunisation coverage has improved, certain regions, especially in the northeast and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, still fall below the national average for complete immunisation.
Dr Naveen Thacker, president of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, told the media last year that a multi-pronged approach — including awareness campaigns, stronger last-mile delivery, and countering misinformation — is vital to achieving high vaccine coverage.
What Indian Parents Need To Know
- Measles is highly contagious: One infected person can spread it to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals around them.
- Vaccines are highly effective: One dose of the MMR vaccine offers 93% protection, while two doses offer 97% protection.
- The ideal vaccination schedule in India: The first dose is given at 9-12 months, and the second at 16-24 months.
Parents must ensure that their children receive both doses on time. Any delay can leave children vulnerable not just to infection, but to life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, or even death.
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The Road Ahead
While the US reels from the consequences of declining immunisation, India must treat this as a cautionary tale. The risks of under-vaccination are neither abstract nor distant — they are real and immediate.
Public health experts warn that misinformation, complacency, and broken trust in science pose as much of a risk as the virus itself. Governments, healthcare providers, and communities must work in concert to ensure full immunisation, especially among the most vulnerable. Remember, when it comes to measles, delay can be deadly.
- Strengthen Immunisation Infrastructure: Ensure consistent vaccine supply and cold chain management across all regions
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Use mass media and community outreach to combat vaccine myths and misinformation
- School-Based Programmes: Make immunisation certificates mandatory for school entry and organise catch-up vaccination drives
- Healthcare Worker Training: Equip frontline workers with updated information to counsel hesitant parents
- Digital Monitoring: Implement robust tracking systems to flag missed doses and follow-up schedules
The measles outbreak in the US is not just their crisis; it is a global health red flag. As a rapidly developing nation, we owe it to our next generation to ensure that no lives are lost or ruined merely for the want of vaccination.
The writer is a senior independent journalist.
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