Measles is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted by air. At the moment in DRC, a measles patient infects on average two to three other people. There is no specific treatment once someone contracts measles, but a well-conducted vaccination campaign is extremely effective to prevent new cases. In areas with low immunisation coverage, vaccination can reduce infant mortality by 50 per cent.
Several factors are contributing to the spread of the current epidemic in the DRC. There is an extremely low immunisation coverage in some regions of the country due to the lack of vaccines, vaccinators, or access to health structures. On top of this, there are stockouts of the measles vaccine in the country, difficulties in keeping the vaccine at the right temperature until injection (which reduces its effectiveness), and logistical difficulties in getting the vaccines to their final destinations. The needs are enormous and the national vaccination programme cannot keep up. In 2019, measles spread to all 26 provinces of the country.