Measles Crisis Explodes in Morocco with More Than 20,086 Confirmed Cases and 37 Deaths

Medical News: In a disturbing resurgence of a disease once close to eradication, Morocco is now facing an unprecedented measles epidemic with over 20,086 confirmed cases and at least 37 officially reported deaths in 2025 so far. But the total toll is far worse. Since the outbreak began in late 2023, more than 40,000 cases have been documented, with nearly 150 fatalities across the North African kingdom. Public health officials warn that this is now a full-scale national emergency and are urging the population to take urgent action. Actual numbers of measles infections across the country could be as high as four- to five-fold of reported confirmed cases.


Measles Crisis Explodes in Morocco with More Than 20,086 Confirmed Cases and 37 Deaths

The Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection has pointed to one overwhelming cause behind this spiraling outbreak - plummeting vaccination rates. The country once boasted more than 95 percent immunization coverage as part of the global measles elimination strategy. But in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy has surged, fueled by misinformation and mistrust of public health efforts. This Medical News report explores how global anti-vaccine sentiments have found a foothold in Morocco, turning a once-controlled disease into a public health nightmare.
 
Global Anti Vax Movement Blamed for Sudden Spike in Cases
Government officials, including Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control, have not minced words - labeling the situation as an outright epidemic. “This is a historic level of spread. Before, we had maybe three or four cases annually. Now, we’re seeing thousands each month,” he explained. Most fatalities are occurring among children under five and adults over 37, but complications from measles have proved deadly for victims of all ages.
 
From coastal towns like Harhoura to major cities, vaccination campaigns have been relaunched with urgency. In clinics, lines of worried parents and grandparents have grown. One such case is 13-year-old Salma and her 9-year-old brother Souhail, who were found to be missing doses during school immunization checks. Their grandmother, Rabia Maknouni, admitted they had simply not realized the children weren’t fully vaccinated. “When the outbreak hit, we panicked,” she said. “Now we are just trying to protect them.”
 
Measles is highly infectious and can linger in the air for hours, spreading through respiratory droplets. While many recover, the disease can lead to severe outcomes like pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death. With this in mind, Morocco has mobilized more than 10 million schoolchildren for vaccination assessments since October 2024, hoping to re-establish herd immunity.
 
Disinformation and Pandemic Mistrust Fuel Crisis
One of the biggest hurdles Morocco faces in its fight against measles is not the virus itself - but the misinformation that surrounds vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic created a global wave of skepticism toward health pol icies, and Morocco was not immune. Some now wrongly believe that the measles vaccine is just another dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
 
Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas blames this rising fear directly on “false information that fuels public fear of vaccines,” while Mourad Mrabet from the National Centre for Public Health Emergencies attributes it to “the influence of the global anti-vax movement.” Health rights advocate Ali Lotfi adds that post-pandemic lockdowns, combined with fear of hospital-acquired infections, led many to avoid immunization centers altogether. Compounding the problem, health authorities were slow to address the backlog of missed vaccinations.
 
Nurses like Hasna Anouar, who have long worked on routine immunization programs, say that before the pandemic, there was almost no resistance. Now, they must spend time reassuring parents, explaining how vital these shots are - not just for individual protection, but to prevent national outbreaks like the current one.
 
International Impact and Rising Global Concern
France, Morocco’s former colonial ruler and one of its largest foreign investors and trade partners, has also expressed concern. The French public health agency warned that Morocco’s outbreak has reached “historic levels” and urged travelers to review their immunization status before visiting. Meanwhile, the United States CDC has not yet added Morocco to its global measles advisory list but continues to recommend that all travelers be up to date on the MMR vaccine, especially infants and young children.
 
Despite the chaos, there are signs of progress. Moroccan authorities say that infection rates are now slowly declining as more people get vaccinated. Still, they admit that only around half of those requiring booster doses had received them by early March. The nationwide campaign is expected to continue through the end of the month, with hopes of restoring the 95 percent coverage needed for herd immunity.
 
Conclusion
Morocco’s ongoing measles epidemic serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of vaccine complacency and the far-reaching impact of misinformation. What was once a disease nearly wiped out from the kingdom has returned with a vengeance, endangering lives and overwhelming health systems. As Morocco scrambles to contain the outbreak and rebuild public trust, the global health community is also taking note. The lessons here are clear - vaccination is not just a personal choice, but a critical responsibility for protecting entire populations. Without sustained immunization efforts and a united front against disinformation, other countries could face similar crises in the future.
 
References:
https://thearabweekly.com/morocco-fights-measles-outbreak-amid-vaccine-misinformation
 
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250312-morocco-fights-measles-outbreak-amid-vaccine-misinformation
 
https://outbreaknewstoday.substack.com/p/morocco-measles-tally-doubles-in
 
https://www.cg.gov.ma/en/node/12171
 
https://www.vax-before-travel.com/2025/03/11/morocco-extends-measles-vaccination-campaign-march
 
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