Measles spreading quickly in Europe

The World Health Organization has warned that the number of measles cases in Europe is continuing to rise, and that "urgent measures" are needed to prevent further spread of the disease.

WHO has reported a significant surge in the number of individuals affected by the disease, with a particularly rapid acceleration in recent months.

The number of measles cases is rising because health officials across Europe are struggling to convince anti-vaccine parents to get their children immunized, according to the organization.

Some 42,200 people were infected last year, which was a more-than 45-fold increase compared to the 941 cases reported in all of 2022.

Some 41 out of 53 countries included in the WHO's Europe region reported cases of the infectious disease, and there were nearly 21,000 hospitalizations and five measles-related deaths, which were reported in two countries, according to Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.

"Vaccination is the only way to protect children from this potentially dangerous disease. Urgent vaccination efforts are needed to halt transmission and prevent further spread," Kluge said.

The organization reported that vaccination rates against the disease had dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. It said, between 2020 and 2022, approximately 1.8 million infants in its Europe region were not vaccinated against measles.

"It is vital that all countries are prepared to rapidly detect and timely respond to measles outbreaks, which could endanger progress towards measles elimination," Kluge added.

Measles is easily spread through respiratory droplets, making it most prevalent in children but capable of affecting individuals of all ages, with symptoms typically including a rash, runny nose, cough, and with potential complications that can be severe.

Vaccinations for measles typically involve two doses, with the first administered at around nine months of age and the second between 15 and 18 months. The vaccine is commonly given alongside immunizations for mumps and rubella, collectively known as MMR.

To prevent outbreaks, a minimum of 95 percent of children in a given area need to be fully vaccinated against the disease, according to the WHO. The decline in vaccination rates against measles is being seen globally, it noted.

In the United Kingdom, in response to a sharp rise in measles cases and the lowest vaccination rates in a decade, health officials are urging millions of parents to schedule missed measles, mumps, and rubella shots for their children. According to Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK's Health Security Agency, national vaccination rates have fallen to approximately 85 percent, with even lower rates observed in certain areas of London.