More than 82,000 people in 47 countries across Europe have contracted measles last year, more than any other year this decade, with 72 cases ending in death, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Thursday.
The number of cases reported in 2018 was three times higher than the total in 2017, and a staggering 15 times higher than in 2016, when the number of those infected, at a little over 5,200, was the lowest in this decade.
At the same time, more children than ever before are being vaccinated in Europe, WHO reported, warning however that progress remains uneven between different countries, “leaving increasing clusters of susceptible individuals unprotected.”
Measles is a highly contagious disease which in children may result in loss of hearing and brain damage and in severe cases, even death.
“The picture for 2018 makes it clear that the current pace of progress in raising immunization rates will be insufficient to stop measles circulation. While data indicate exceptionally high immunization coverage at regional level, they also reflect a record number affected and killed by the disease. This means that gaps at local level still offer an open door to the virus,” said Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, Director of the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe, which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“We cannot achieve healthier populations globally, as promised in WHO’s vision for the coming five years, if we do not work locally. We must do more and do it better to protect each and every person from diseases that can be easily avoided.”
In order to prevent the virus from spreading, at least 95 percent of the population must be immunised, which would achieve so-called “herd immunity” – community protection for everyone, including those who cannot be vaccinated due to existing conditions, WHO said.
The data showed that the rate of immunisation remained below 95 percent in 34 countries of the region.
“Progress in achieving high national coverage is commendable. However, it cannot make us blind to the people and places that are still being missed. It is here that we must now concentrate increased efforts. We should never become complacent about our successes but continue to strive to reach the final mile,” said, Dr Nedret Emiroglu, Director of the Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
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