Measles Is Spiking Around The Globe. How Worried Should We Be?

The world has two kinds of measles problems.

In low-income countries like Madagascar and in strife-ridden countries like Yemen, the disease takes a toll because vaccines are not available or accessible or affordable. In Madagascar alone, there have been nearly 80,000 cases and an estimated 900 deaths since September.

And now there's a rise in measles in other countries, often wealthier ones, because of what's being called "vaccine hesitancy." Parents are opting out of the routine vaccination, which has been available since 1963 and is credited in helping to nearly eliminate the disease.

That hesitancy has played a role in outbreaks around the world. Japan is facing the worst measles outbreak decade, with at least . Since the start of 2019, have been infected in southwest Washington state, and there have been17 cases in Vancouver, the first case of measles to the country in five years.