Myanmar Measles Risk for Displaced Children
Recent Developments
01As of end-June 2026, UNICEF-supported areas had vaccinated 259,370 children against measles, while 1.5 million children under five in Myanmar had missed basic vaccinations since 2018.
02The Myanmar Health Cluster reported 3.8 million internally displaced people as of 8 June 2026, up from 3.6 million on 24 November 2025.
03Health cluster reporting in 2026 said measles risk remained high in Rakhine and Chin states due to a large number of unvaccinated children, while preparedness work continued there.
04WHO’s Myanmar public health analysis reported measles cases in 2024 and warned that surveillance underreporting remains a concern.
Interventions
- UNICEF-supported routine and catch-up measles vaccination for children under one year and under five in Myanmar.
- Joint measles preparedness efforts by the Health and Nutrition Clusters in Rakhine and Chin, including capacity building for diagnosis and treatment of measles cases.
- WHO and UNICEF coordination on catch-up immunization campaigns to reduce the number of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children.
What Works
- High-coverage measles vaccination is the most effective way to prevent transmission and outbreaks in displaced populations.
- Catch-up immunization campaigns, cold-chain support, and strengthened surveillance help identify cases early and reduce spread in hard-to-reach areas.
- Integrated humanitarian services that combine vaccination with nutrition and primary care are especially important for children in conflict-affected settings.
How to Help
- Donate to UNICEF, WHO, and humanitarian health partners supporting immunization in Myanmar.
- Support organizations delivering vaccines, cold-chain equipment, and outbreak response in conflict-affected areas.
- Advocate for emergency health funding and humanitarian access for displaced families in Myanmar.
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Organizations Helping(12)
UNICEF addresses drought-driven school disruption by improving water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools, finalizing school WASH standards and guidelines, and helping design and install climate-resilient water supply systems so schools can keep operating safely during drought conditions.
WHO Myanmar has directly supported measles control through supplementary immunization campaigns and outbreak-focused communication. Its Myanmar factsheet states that throughout 2019 the country was responding strongly with supplementary measles immunization, and that vaccination is the best way to prevent measles. WHO also emphasizes strengthening routine immunization and maintaining high coverage to prevent further spread in hard-to-reach communities.
LSHTM researchers are directly involved in measuring Myanmar’s measles burden and identifying immunity gaps. The Myanmar measles study lists LSHTM among the author affiliations and analyzes cases, deaths, and vaccination coverage from 2014 to 2018, concluding that routine immunization needs strengthening alongside targeted outbreak responses. That research approach supports evidence-based planning for campaigns and surveillance.
MIMU supports measles response indirectly through humanitarian health coordination and situation reporting. Its Myanmar Health Cluster bulletin says measles preparedness efforts are ongoing in Rakhine and Chin, indicating active monitoring and planning in conflict-affected areas. By publishing health cluster updates, MIMU helps responders coordinate services where displacement and access constraints increase outbreak risk.
