After years of progress, measles, a disease once thought to be under control in many countries is making an alarming comeback. Experts warn that this resurgence is not just a health issue, but a wake-up call for the global community.
A Global Surge in Cases
As of May 9, 2025, the United States reported 1,001 confirmed measles cases and three deaths, a steep increase from the 285 cases recorded throughout 2024.
Europe has seen nearly 6,000 cases this year, while the WHO Asia Pacific Region, which includes countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, reported 2,584 cases in just the first three months of 2025. That’s a 50% increase from the same period last year.
While Singapore and Brunei successfully eliminated measles in 2018 and 2015 respectively, outbreaks in nearby countries underscore how easily the virus can cross borders when immunity gaps exist.
Why Measles Is So Dangerous
Measles Outbreak: What Parents Need to Know About the Surge
Public health experts refer to measles as the “canary in the coal mine” of infectious diseases. Its resurgence often signals deeper problems in immunization systems.
Measles is extremely contagious. One infected person can spread the virus to 12 to 18 others, making it more transmissible than COVID-19 or influenza.
In the current US outbreak, 30% of the cases are among children under five, with one in four of them requiring hospitalization. Tragically, two young children, aged six and eight, are among those who have died.
Globally, measles claimed over 100,000 lives in 2023, mostly among children under five. In high-income countries like Singapore, the death rate is lower (around 1 in 1,000), but the risks of severe complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term disability remain.
A Preventable Threat
What makes the current crisis more heartbreaking is that measles is entirely preventable. A safe and effective vaccine has existed since the 1960s and has saved an estimated 94 million lives worldwide.
Unfortunately, vaccination rates dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic due to disrupted healthcare services and missed routine childhood immunizations. Many health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are still struggling to catch up.
What Parents Can Do
Measles Outbreak: What Parents Need to Know About the Surge
For parents, the message is simple but urgent: make sure your children are fully vaccinated according to the national immunization schedule.
In Singapore, the measles vaccine is given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, which is free under the National Childhood Immunisation Programme.
Check your child’s records via HealthHub or consult your Pediatrician if you’re unsure.
A Collective Responsibility
Measles is more than just a childhood illness. It is a test of our public health resilience. Vaccination not only protects your child but also contributes to herd immunity, shielding those who cannot be vaccinated, such as newborns or those with compromised immune systems.
As we’ve learned from the pandemic, health is a shared responsibility. Let’s not wait for preventable diseases to take more lives before we act.
