Rabat – Morocco is currently facing a worrying resurgence of measles, with health authorities prompting a nationwide response as well as caution from citizens.
Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection called for swift action to curb the disease’s rapid spread.
During an online conference held today by the National Observatory for Child Rights and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, El Youbi warned of the exponentially growing number of cases.
“Thousands of people across all age groups are at risk,” he said during the conference.
Morocco’s battle with measles
Measles cases have risen since September 2023. El Youbi recalled that in 1987, Morocco recorded its highest number of infections.
The revamping of Morocco’s national vaccination program that year represented a watershed moment, with instances steadily declining.
Authorities intensified vaccination efforts and introduced a second dose in schools in 2002.
“Campaigns in 2013 and 2014 pushed coverage beyond 95%, allowing Morocco to align with the global effort to eliminate measles,” El Youbi further explained.
Since 2013, the government reported less than four instances annually which led some to conclude that Morocco was on the verge of eliminating the illness until shown otherwise.
Measles returns
Health officials received an alert on October 14, 2023, about suspected cases in Agadir.
Pediatricians at the university hospital noticed children with measles-like symptoms, later confirmed through testing.
“The disease spread swiftly, with 138 confirmed cases in just one month. Some patients suffered severe complications, and one person died,” El Youbi said.
Investigations showed the outbreak started weeks earlier, but those infected had neither sought medical help nor reported their symptoms.
“Low vaccination rates created the perfect environment for the virus to spread,” he added.
Recent figures show 25,000 measles cases and 120 deaths.
The most affected regions include Souss-Massa, Marrakech-Safi, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, and Fez-Meknes, while Rabat-Sale and Casablanca-Settat saw fewer cases.
Those most at risk
El Youbi underlined that measles has affected all age groups, including newborns under nine months who have not yet had vaccinations.
Children between 18 months and 11 years top the list, followed by those aged 9 to 17 months and individuals over 37.
Among the fatalities, 44 involved children under five, 13 were between 5 and 11 years old, and seven were adolescents.
16 deaths occurred among individuals aged 18 to 36, while 25 deaths involved those over 37.
El Youbi linked the outbreak to reduced vaccination rates, insisting that the crisis was preventable.
“This epidemic, which spares no age group or region, raises alarms about other diseases, such as whooping cough and tetanus. Morocco must prioritize immunization to safeguard future generations.”
Experts from pediatric associations across Morocco presented data on the national immunization policy, diagnostic procedures, clinical sequelae, and global measles trends.
Read Also: Measles Crisis in Morocco: 19,000+ Cases and 107 Deaths Recorded Since 2023
