Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is grappling with a severe measles outbreak that has now infected over 14,123 people, according to the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD). The surge has alarmed health authorities, who report that most cases involve schoolchildren who received only a single dose of the measles vaccine.
In a pressing statement, the NCCD urged parents to ensure their children receive both doses of the vaccine to shield them from this highly contagious disease. Measles spreads rapidly through the air, with symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic rash. The virus can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours, and one infected person can potentially spread it to 18 others.
While measles can affect anyone, it predominantly strikes young children. Vaccination remains the most effective defense, training the body to combat the virus safely. Before the vaccine’s introduction in 1963, epidemics ravaged populations every two to three years, claiming an estimated 2.6 million lives annually.
Even with a safe, affordable vaccine available, around 107,500 people—mostly children under five—died from measles in 2023. Symptoms typically emerge 10-14 days after exposure, starting with a four-to-seven-day phase of runny nose, cough, red watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks. The rash follows about 7-18 days post-exposure, beginning on the face and upper neck, spreading over three days to the hands and feet, and fading after five to six days.
Health experts emphasize the critical need for full vaccination amid this crisis. Mongolia’s outbreak underscores the global challenge of maintaining high immunization rates to prevent such devastating resurgences. Parents are called to act swiftly, consulting healthcare providers to complete vaccination schedules and protect vulnerable communities.