South Korea reports 52 measles cases, highest in six years
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South Korea has confirmed 52 measles cases in 2025, marking the highest number in six years, as global outbreaks of once-eliminated infectious diseases resurge.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the confirmed cases surpass last year's total of 49 and are the highest since 2019, when 194 cases were reported.
South Korea was declared measles-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014.
However, the recent rise is attributed to factors such as increased international travel and an aging population.
Of the 52 cases, 34 were imported, largely from countries like Vietnam, while 18 were locally transmitted through contact with international travelers in households and medical facilities.
Despite the surge, health officials emphasize that the risk of rapid outbreaks remains low due to South Korea's stable vaccination rates and robust monitoring system.
The KDCA also noted an increase in other diseases typically associated with less developed regions, such as tuberculosis and scabies.
The spike in measles cases follows a period of minimal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, with just six cases in 2020 and none in 2021 or 2022. In 2023, there were eight cases.
Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and continue to emphasize the importance of vaccinations to maintain herd immunity.
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This isn't just underdevelopment—it's a systematic surrender of national health autonomy. Today, Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines domestically. We lack essential seed banks, have minimal university-based vaccine development programs, and operate with regulatory guidelines that are inadequate for sophisticated vaccine manufacturing. Our clinical trial expertise remains severely limited, creating bottlenecks in bringing locally developed vaccines to market. The contrast with global pharmaceutical leaders is stark. While universities worldwide have been the birthplace of revolutionary vaccines-from the Hepatitis B vaccine developed at UC San Francisco to the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine-Pakistan's academic institutions remain largely disconnected from commercial vaccine production. Learning from global success stories International experience offers valuable lessons. 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State-of-the-art pilot manufacturing facilities will provide proof-of-concept capabilities essential for scaling innovations. Industry brings manufacturing excellence and market expertise to the equation. Private sector partners can transform academic research into GMP-compliant commercial production, establish robust supply chains for raw materials, and navigate complex regulatory approvals. Their distribution networks and market access capabilities will ensure that domestically produced vaccines reach every corner of Pakistan. Leading companies in Pakistan already in the field of Biopharmaceutical manufacturing must be involved in the development process. A realistic implementation roadmap Success requires a phased approach spanning six years. The foundation phase (Years 1-2) must establish policy frameworks and coordination mechanisms while launching capacity-building programmes. 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