Measles Cases Surge Again in Europe: WHO Urges Increased Vaccination Efforts

 

 

Measles cases are surging across Europe for the second consecutive year and are projected to surpass the high numbers recorded in 2023, according to a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization is urging countries to ramp up their vaccination efforts to combat this alarming trend.

Alarming Increase in Measles Cases

In the first quarter of this year, 56,634 measles cases and four deaths were reported across 45 of the 53 countries within the WHO European region, which also includes Central Asia. This figure is just 5,000 cases shy of the total for 2023, which saw 61,070 cases and 13 deaths across 41 countries. Comparatively, only 941 cases were reported in 2022, illustrating a drastic 60-fold increase.

“Measles cases across Europe continue to surge, with the number of cases recorded this year poised to exceed the total reported throughout 2023,” the WHO stated. Hans Kluge, WHO Europe director, emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling on all countries to take immediate action. “Even in regions with high overall immunization coverage, it is critical to vaccinate the vulnerable, close immunity gaps, and prevent the virus from establishing a foothold in any community.”

Understanding Measles and Its Impact

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. While it most commonly affects children, anyone can contract the disease. Symptoms typically include a rash, runny nose, cough, and watery eyes, with potential complications ranging from mild to severe.

To prevent outbreaks, at least 95% of children in a community must be fully vaccinated against measles. Despite this, almost half of the cases recorded in 2023 involved children under five years old. This spike reflects an “accumulation of children who missed routine vaccinations against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the WHO explained, coupled with a slow recovery in vaccination coverage in 2021 and 2022.

Geographical Spread and Incidence Rates

Outbreaks have been reported in 27 of the 33 countries where measles is considered eliminated. The countries most affected by the surge are Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, with incidence rates of 2,771.15, 2,148.66, and 1,851.01 per million people, respectively, between April 2023 and March 2024. Austria is the only Western European country in the top ten, with an incidence rate of 50.90 per million.

WHO’s Call to Action

The WHO is calling for a renewed focus on vaccination campaigns to close immunity gaps left by the pandemic. Ensuring high vaccination coverage is crucial to preventing measles from taking hold in any community. Public health officials are encouraged to identify and reach out to those who missed vaccinations, particularly young children.