Michael Hiltzik: Measles is again on the march across the world, thanks to anti-vaxxers such as RFK Jr.

Forecasting the future is difficult. But here's an easy prediction: The anti-vaccination movement in the U.S. and globally is going to result in the deaths of more children.

This grim portent comes to us courtesy of UNICEF, which is reporting that 30,601 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Europe and Central Asia this year through Dec.5.

That's up from 909 cases in those regions in 2022, or an increase of 3,266%.

UNICEF expects the final annual tally to be considerably higher, because the measles rate nearly doubled in October and November, marking a longer-term surge.

"There is no clearer sign of a breakdown in immunization coverage than an increase in cases of measles," says Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF's regional director for Europe and Central Asia.

In the United States, measles has remained more or less under control since the 2019 spike to 1,274 cases: 41 cases reported so far this year, down from 121