The number of measles cases worldwide reached a 23-year high in 2019, with medical experts warning that most countries are vaccinating very few people amid the global coronavirus.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 869,770 cases of measles were reported worldwide last year, while deaths from the disease also increased by 50% compared to 2016.

According to the World Health Organization, the rate of the first measles injection has stagnated in recent years, and the drop in vaccination rates during the global epidemic has put the health of 94 million people at risk.

The world is facing one health crisis with #COVID19. Access to routine immunizations can stop another.
New data shows #measles surged worldwide in 2019, reaching the highest number of reported cases in 23 years https://t.co/b7ushMIanl pic.twitter.com/mQ6MirbFmr

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 12, 2020

Professor Natasha Crowcroft, a technical officer for the World Health Organization, said the airborne disease killed 27,500 people last year whereas nine countries, including Congo, Madagascar, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine have 73% of all measles cases globally.

Significantly, however, measles and other infectious diseases have declined this year due to precautionary measures against the coronavirus, which have also reduced the spread of other viruses.