KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 – Cases of measles in the country increased by 693.1 per cent from 2020 to 2024, according to the Ministry of Health, with the highest number of cases recorded in Sabah (2,015), followed by Selangor (491) and Kedah (260).
“In 2024, Malaysia recorded 3,791 cases of measles with an incidence rate of 100.4 cases per million people. This figure represents an increase of almost double compared to 2023 which recorded 2,002 cases with an incidence rate of 60 cases per million people,” said Health Minister, Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a written parliamentary reply on August 27.
According to figures provided in his written reply below, most states saw a drastic increase in cases from 2022 to 2023, with the numbers going further up in 2024:
The figures were provided in response to senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam’s question about whether there was an increase in measles cases by states for the last five years.
Dzulkefly added that 44 per cent of cases involved children aged five years and below. The number of measles outbreaks also increased to 231 in 2024 compared to 112 in 2023.
Dr Lingeshwaran also wanted to know how the Measles and Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity (MR SIA) campaign strategy will be carried out and the cost per dose of MR vaccine that has been purchased by the Ministry.
He also asked why the campaign is not limited to high-risk localities only.
“The Ministry of Health has been implementing the Measles and Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity (MR SIA) programme nationwide from August 4 to October 12, 2025 to strengthen existing immunisation programmes and achieve the measles elimination target by 2030,” said Dzulkefly.
“Although national immunisation coverage in 2024 exceeds 95 per cent, only 62 per cent of districts have reached that level. Therefore, the strategy of MR SIA is to increase herd immunity by ensuring coverage of more than 95 per cent throughout the country.”
“The target involves all children aged 6 to 59 months (born 1 August 2020 to 31 January 2025), regardless of immunisation status, with additional vaccinations at health clinics, selected ATM facilities and outreach programmes. This vaccine is provided free of charge including to non-citizens.”
He added that for the MR SIA programme, the main vaccine used is the Measles Rubella (MR) vaccine, while children scheduled to receive vaccines in the National Immunisation Programme will be given the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The price of one dose of MR vaccine is RM10.74 (Peninsula) and RM12.43 (Sabah, Sarawak, W.P. Labuan), while the price of MMR vaccine is RM22.98. The government has spent RM16.3 million to procure 1,500,010 doses of MR vaccine, according to the minister.
“The MR SIA programme is not limited to risk localities only because children need herd community protection against measles infection and this only happens when 95 per cent of the population in a community has been vaccinated,” said Dzulkefly.
“Supplemental immunisation in risk localities is only effective for short-term control. For long-term prevention, mass immunisation throughout the country is needed because measles spreads easily, individuals are contagious four days before to four days after rashes appear, and at least 95 per cent coverage in all areas is needed to prevent cases and outbreaks.”
