Measles cases surge by a staggering 30 times in Europe, warns WHO

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a significant increase in measles cases in Europe, with a 30-fold rise last year. Health officials are concerned about the ongoing increase and are calling for urgent action to prevent further spread. In 2023, over 30,000 people were infected with measles, compared to 941 cases in 2022. The WHO believes this surge is due to fewer children being vaccinated against the disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK, health officials have warned about a highly contagious measles outbreak in the West Midlands, which could potentially spread to other areas with low vaccination rates. NHS England reports that more than 3.4 million children under the age of 16 are at risk of becoming ill from measles as they are currently unprotected. To address this issue, millions of parents and carers are being advised to schedule appointments to ensure that their children receive the full two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. However, only 85% of children starting primary school in the UK have received both doses of the MMR vaccine. Dr. Hans Kluge, regional director at the WHO, expressed concern about the situation in Europe and highlighted the 30-fold increase in measles cases, along with nearly 21,000 hospitalizations and five deaths related to the disease. He emphasized that vaccination is crucial for protecting children from measles. Measles can have severe consequences at any age, with symptoms including high fever and a rash that typically clears up within 10 days. However, complications can arise, such as pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and seizures. Infants too young to receive their first vaccine dose, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk. Measles during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, and low birth weight. The WHO is urging all countries in Europe to promptly detect and respond to measles outbreaks and increase vaccination rates. Measles affected all age groups last year, and the majority of cases were in children aged 1-4 and adults aged 20 and above. From January to October 2023, 20,918 individuals in Europe were hospitalized due to measles, and five measles-related deaths were reported in two countries. Vaccination rates for the first dose of the MMR vaccine dropped from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2022 across Europe. Similarly, uptake of the second dose fell from 92% to 91% during the same period, causing over 1.8 million children in Europe to miss out on the measles vaccine. The WHO attributes this decline in vaccination to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization programs, resulting in a large number of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children. The WHO warns that the risk of measles spreading across borders and within communities is significantly higher now, with the resumption of international travel and the relaxation of social-distancing measures. Even countries that have achieved measles elimination status are at risk of large outbreaks. The WHO states that vaccination coverage of at least 95% with two vaccine doses is necessary in all communities to prevent the highly contagious disease from spreading.