Over 100 Measles Deaths Reported in Morocco Amid Vaccine Coverage Decline
More than 100 deaths from measles have been reported in Morocco since October 2023, primarily caused by a significant decline in vaccination coverage in remote areas. Authorities have warned of the risk of widespread transmission of the epidemic, which poses a serious threat to public health.
Moroccan Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amin Tahraoui, acknowledged that the measles epidemic had claimed the lives of 107 people, half of whom were children under 12 years old, with 19,515 cases reported by the end of 2024. This particularly severe epidemic highlights the weaknesses in Morocco’s healthcare system and the urgent need to improve vaccination coverage to prevent future health crises, according to health experts.
During an oral question session in the House of Representatives (the lower house of the Moroccan Parliament), Tahraoui explained that the decline in vaccination coverage over the past few years, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, had left a large portion of the population vulnerable to the measles virus.
According to Moroccan media, the epidemic began in the Souss-Massa region (central Morocco) and quickly spread to the outskirts of the Marrakech-Safi region before affecting the entire country. Remote areas were hit particularly hard, including isolated villages like Amskerdad in the Chichaoua province, where the lack of hospitals and healthcare infrastructure has severely complicated the situation.
On social media, many citizens have documented measles-related deaths in these villages, highlighting major failures in health facilities and resources in these regions. Ahmed Al-Khamisi, a father of three, shared a tragic story with Moroccan media outlet “Hawamich” about the loss of his two-year-old son to complications from a measles infection. “We couldn’t find a hospital or an ambulance,” he said.
This story underscores the challenges faced by rural residents in accessing the necessary medical care. In many rural areas, health centers are often out of service, and residents must travel long distances to reach distant health centers like the one in Amantanot. This journey is costly and dangerous, with rough and treacherous roads. Brik ben Ahmed, 60, explained, “We don’t have an ambulance, and the hospital is far. If we had a vehicle, we could transport patients to the hospital, but otherwise, the patient has to stay at home.”
The villages in Morocco hide a cruel reality of suffering and marginalization. The nearest clinic is dozens of kilometers away, and the lack of paved roads and winding, difficult-to-navigate terrain make the journey extremely challenging, if not impossible.
41 Measles Cases in Prisons
As measles continues to spread across the kingdom, the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration reported 41 cases of measles among detainees in prisons throughout the country. A special statement released on Wednesday revealed that the local prison in Tangier 2 was particularly affected.
Health specialists fear the worst, given the highly contagious nature of this epidemic, especially considering the overcrowding that characterizes Moroccan prisons.
