Measles outbreak in Mumbai and the reasons for it

• A measles outbreak in Mumbai has raised concerns amongst the country's public health authorities.
• The city has reported more than 200 cases in the past two months and at least 13 children have lost their lives.

Reasons for outbreak

• Loops in universal immunization programme during pandemic
• Only 41% of the eligible children have been inoculated against measles in Mumbai.
• Vaccine hesitancy
• Parents show a disinclination to continue inoculation regime for children after they develop fever on being administered the first jab.
• Lost focus on Targeted immunization programmes
• Immunization programmes of DPT & measles - have been hit in low and mid-income countries, including India, in the past two years.
• Impact of lockdowns and restrictions
• ~ 100,000 children missed their shots because of the restrictions on movement.