More than 10.3 million people caught measles last year, a 20 percent increase from a year earlier, according to a joint report by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With outbreaks in 57 countries, the jump reveals gaps in vaccine coverage of the viral illness, with more than 22 million children missing their first dose of measles vaccine in 2023, the agencies said. Measles is highly contagious, requiring at least 95 percent coverage with two doses of the measles/rubella vaccine to stave off outbreaks.

“The number of measles infections are rising around the globe, endangering lives and health,’’ CDC Director Mandy Cohen said in a statement. “The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus.’’

Nearly half of all the large and disruptive outbreaks occurred in Africa, the health agencies said. Babies and young children are at the greatest risk of death or serious complications from the disease. 

bloomberg