WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi warn of rising global outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and meningitis due to funding cuts, missed vaccinations, and ongoing crises.

The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance on Wednesday warned of a global increase in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever.

The joint statement was made at the beginning of World Immunization Week, observed annually from April 24 to 30.

“Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past five decades. Funding cuts to global health have put these hard-won gains in jeopardy,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The statement noted a concerning resurgence of measles, with global cases rising by 20% in just one year, reaching 10.3 million in 2023. This upward trend is expected to continue through 2024 and 2025.

In the past year alone, 138 countries reported measles cases, with 61 of them experiencing outbreaks—the highest numbers recorded since 2019.

“The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate more than 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected countries against measles,” added UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

In the first quarter of 2025, over 5,500 meningitis cases and around 300 deaths were reported across 22 African countries. The year before, in 2024, there were 26,000 cases and nearly 1,400 deaths in 24 countries.

The organizations also reported an increase in cases of meningitis and yellow fever across Africa in 2024. After a decade-long decline, 124 yellow fever cases were recorded in 12 countries last year.

There has also been a rise in the number of children missing routine vaccine doses, despite global efforts to make up for setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, approximately 14.5 million children missed all of their routine vaccinations.

Gavi is calling for at least $9 billion in funding ahead of its pledging summit on June 25. The funds are intended to protect 500 million children and save at least 8 million lives between 2026 and 2030.

This call for support comes amid significant funding cuts, widespread misinformation, and ongoing humanitarian crises, including the war in Gaza.

Adding to the crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump, who took office earlier this year, has made sweeping cuts to humanitarian aid for various global agencies.