Measles in Morocco: A Public Health Challenge to Address

Since September 2023, Morocco has faced a resurgence of measles, with 25,000 reported cases and 120 recorded deaths. According to Hespress, Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, describes this outbreak as a true epidemic caused by a significant decline in vaccination rates.

Historically, Morocco succeeded in controlling measles thanks to vaccination coverage above 95%. However, as in many countries, the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted routine vaccination campaigns, leaving some populations at increased risk.

In response to this crisis, decisive actions are under way:

• Reactivation of vaccination programs: the Ministry of Health aims to quickly restore vaccination coverage above 95%.
• Targeting vulnerable populations: young people aged 9 months to 14 years, particularly in schools and health centers, are at the heart of these efforts.
• A vigilance and monitoring system deployed at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (COUSP) and in 12 provincial health emergency centers.
• A broad communication campaign targeting parents, teachers, health professionals and public authorities.
• Strengthened coordination between the Ministries of Health, Education and Interior to verify children’s vaccination status and manage contact cases.

This crisis highlights an essential point: public health is a collective responsibility. Stronger cooperation between government, health experts and civil society actors will help overcome this challenge.

What if this mobilization became an opportunity to rethink Morocco’s vaccination prevention policies over the long term?