The number of measles cases reported worldwide in the first three months of 2019 has tripled compared with the same time last year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can sometimes lead to serious health complications, including infections of the lungs and brain.
The UN body said provisional data indicated a “a clear trend”, with all regions of the world seeing outbreaks.
Africa had witnessed the most dramatic rise – up 700%. Outbreaks have also hit Brazil, Pakistan and Yemen, “causing many deaths mostly among young children”.
WHO heads Henrietta Fore and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world was “in the middle of a measles crisis” and that “the proliferation of confusing and contradictory information” about vaccines was partly to blame.