Africa: Largely Eradicated Diseases At Risk of Returning Due to Budget Cuts

Vaccines have saved around 150 million lives in the last 50 years. However, this progress is now at risk. Cuts to global health funding are causing disease outbreaks. The UN health agency, WHO, issued this warning on Thursday.

In Africa's "meningitis belt," vaccination campaigns eliminated meningitis A. Improved immunization and emergency vaccine stockpiles reduced yellow fever cases and deaths. But these achievements are now threatened. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's Director-General, stated that funding cuts jeopardize these gains.

Outbreaks are rising again. In 2023, measles cases exceeded 10.3 million. This marks a 20 percent increase from 2022. WHO and UNICEF warned that this trend may continue into 2025.

Yellow fever is also resurging. After years of decline in Africa, outbreaks are increasing again in 2025. Cases have also been reported in the Americas.

Vaccination efforts face pressure from misinformation and other factors. Population growth, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts contribute to this challenge.