WHO: Record Number of Measles Cases in Europe – 41 Thousand People

The number of measles cases in Europe has reached a record level, announced the World Health Organization.

According to data, more than 41 thousand people have fallen ill in the first six months of this year, of which 37 are deaths related to measles. In 2017, there were 23,927 reported cases of illness, while the year before, the number of cases was significantly lower – 5,273 people, reports N1. Experts link these alarming numbers of cases to a worrying trend of vaccination refusal.

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Since the beginning of this year, 807 cases of measles infection have been reported in England, and local public health has stated that a large number of cases are associated with extensive travel to areas in Europe that have been struggling with measles outbreaks.

By far the highest number of measles cases in Europe has been recorded in Ukraine, where more than 23 thousand people have fallen ill, while six other countries have reported more than a thousand cases of infection – France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Russia, and Serbia. In all these countries, deaths have also been recorded, with the highest number in Serbia, totaling 14.

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– These results show that every unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated person with underdeveloped immunity is very vulnerable regardless of where they live. Every country should encourage an increase in vaccination rates and raise collective immunity, warns Nedret Emiroglu from the World Health Organization.

Emiroglu explains that the first symptoms are similar to a cold – runny nose and sneezing, followed by high fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle pain, conjunctivitis, and a rash on the skin that appears two to four days after the initial symptoms and then gradually spreads throughout the body.

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Public health in England has recorded that most of the infected are teenagers who were not vaccinated in childhood or whose vaccination was incomplete. A warning has also been issued that anyone unsure of their vaccination status should renew their vaccine before traveling to any of the countries affected by the outbreak, before attending large gatherings such as festivals, and before the start of the new school year to ensure they are protected.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, spreading through airborne droplets, and the infection itself lasts seven to ten days. Although most people recover completely from measles, some infected individuals may experience serious complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, high fever, pneumonia, and liver infection. The infection can be alleviated, and even completely prevented by vaccination, but in recent years, fewer people are vaccinating their children due to fears of side effects, or the incorrect association of vaccination with the onset of autism.