Geneva: At least 922 people have died in a measles outbreak in Madagascar, the majority of them children, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

Madagascar is one of the poorest nations on earth and has very low vaccination rates. Credit:File

Since the beginning of the outbreak in September, more than 66,000 people in the African island nation have been infected with the highly contagious virus, the WHO said.

Measles is easily preventable through vaccination. The WHO has launched a campaign in collaboration with local authorities to vaccinate more than 6 million children in Madagascar.

The campaign also includes efforts to educate the population and counter negative perceptions about vaccinations.