Lifestyle Health More Than Half the World Faces High Risk of Measles Outbreaks Following 'Big Gaps' in Immunizations, WHO Says "More than half of all the countries in the world are going to be at high or very high risk of outbreaks by the end of this year," the World Health Organization (WHO) said By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 24, 2024 09:45AM EST Close Measles outbreak. Photo: Getty More than half the world will be at a "high or very high risk" of measles outbreaks by the end of 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Earlier this week, the global group warned that the viral infection — which is also known as rubeola — has been increasing across the globe due to a high amount of vaccinations missed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "What we are worried about is this year, 2024, we've got these big gaps in our immunization programs, and if we don't fill them really quickly with the vaccine, measles will just jump into that gap," Natasha Crowcroft, a Senior Technical Adviser on Measles and Rubella with the WHO, said during a press briefing in Geneva. "We can see, from data that's produced with WHO data by the CDC, that more than half of all the countries in the world are going to be at high or very high risk of outbreaks by the end of this year," she added. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Measles virus test. Getty Measles Deaths Have Nearly Doubled Globally Due to Lack of Vaccinations During Pandemic Measles, according to the WHO, is a "highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications and death." While it is most common in children, it can affect anyone. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body. Last year, more than 300,000 cases were reported worldwide, marking a 79% increase from 2022, Crowcroft said on behalf of the WHO. Global vaccination rates, she added, have slipped to 83%. Figures for deaths have not yet been completed, Crowcroft revealed. Vaccination. Getty Philadelphia Measles Outbreak Includes Daycare Exposure After Parents Didn’t Follow Quarantine Rules This year, a total of 20 measles cases have been reported by 11 jurisdictions across the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Arizona, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia have all had cases, the organization said. Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe. There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.