Europe’s rising measles cases is concerning: WHO says

The rising cases of measles in Europe has prompted a loud cry for urgent action. In Europe, an alarming 30-fold rise in measles cases were reported in 40 of the 53 European States, between January and October 2023. Over 30,000 cases of measles were reported in the European regions in 2023, compared to the 941 cases reported in all of 2022, according to World Health Organization (WHO). The rising trend of measles cases have persisted in recent months, prompting calls for massive vaccination campaigns.

WHO’s Regional Director for Europe pointed out that “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. It is vital that all countries are prepared to rapidly detect and timely respond to measles outbreaks, which could endanger progress towards measles elimination.”

The increasing measles cases has been linked to the setbacks in surveillance and immunization effort due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Immunization services were affected during this period and millions of children were left vulnerable to several preventable diseases including measles.

According to WHO, vaccination failures often results in outbreaks that can affect both young and old people. In 2023, WHO reported that 1 in 5 measles cases were among adults of 20 years and above, with 5 measles-related deaths recorded.

Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that can spread easily from an infected person via breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can affect people of all ages, but children are more susceptible. Symptoms of measles are high fever, runny nose, and rashes. The rash often clears within 10 days, but complications such as pneumonia, eyes inflammation, blindness, and seizures may persist.

European countries are tasked to increase surveillance, detect and respond quickly to measles outbreaks. The only antidote to the rising measles cases is urgent vaccination campaign to halt transmission and prevent further spread, WHO says.