Myanmar Measles Risk for Displaced Children
Recent Developments
01UNICEF reported that more than 3.3 million people are internally displaced and in need of life-saving assistance, and it supported first-stage measles-rubella vaccination for more than 300,000 children under age one.
02UNICEF also reported intensified health, WASH, and risk-communication support in Yangon, Rakhine, and other regions to help contain rising acute watery diarrhea cases, reflecting broader strain on health services.
03National measles surveillance data show that measles outbreaks have historically been concentrated in underserved areas and linked to poor vaccination coverage, with 2,673 cases and 23 deaths reported from 2014 to 2018.
Interventions
- Measles-rubella vaccination campaigns targeting young children in Myanmar.
- Health, WASH, and community-risk communication support in affected regions to reduce outbreak spread and improve access to care.
What Works
- High coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine is the most effective way to prevent sustained measles transmission.
- Rapid outbreak response vaccination in affected and surrounding areas can curb spread, as seen in earlier Myanmar outbreaks where immunizing children in and around affected areas helped control transmission.
How to Help
- Support humanitarian organizations providing immunization and child health services in Myanmar, including UNICEF and other emergency health responders.
- Back emergency funding for vaccination, surveillance, nutrition, and treatment services for displaced children in conflict-affected areas.
- Advocate for protection of health access and humanitarian corridors so immunization teams can reach hard-to-access communities.
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Organizations Helping(9)
The partnership supports measles elimination by advocating for large-scale vaccination campaigns, documenting campaign execution, and sharing operational lessons for reaching children missed by routine services. In Myanmar, it highlighted nationwide measles campaigns that vaccinated millions of young children and stressed the importance of adding a second routine dose to prevent future outbreaks.
CDC supports Myanmar through public health collaboration that strengthens outbreak detection, investigation, and response capacity. Its work includes field epidemiology training, surveillance improvements, laboratory capacity, and partnership with the Ministry of Health to better identify and control infectious disease outbreaks, including vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.
Gavi tackles cholera primarily by financing oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaigns and supporting the global OCV stockpile. In 2026, Gavi announced funding for a first allocation of 20 million doses to restart preventive vaccination campaigns, and the supply was being used for outbreak control and preventive campaigns in affected countries. WHO noted that the one-dose strategy remains the standard for outbreak response, with two-dose use considered case by case.
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.
