‘Dramatic’ measles outbreak in Europe

Tourists in Europe have been told to ensure they are vaccinated against measles after the World Health Organisation warned that more than 41,000 children and adults on the continent were infected with the highly contagious disease in the first half of the year. The number of cases is an eight-year high and has caused 37 deaths in Europe. Public Health England said people should be up to date with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations before travelling.

TOURISTS in Europe have been told to ensure they are vaccinated against measles after the World Health Organisation warned that more than 41,000 children and adults on the continent were infected with the highly contagious disease in the first six months of the year. The total of 41,000 cases is an eight-year high in infections and has caused 37 deaths in Europe so far. It is almost double the 23,927 infections recorded all year in 2017 and is far higher than 2016’s annual total of 5,273.

“We are seeing a dramatic increase in infections and extended outbreaks,” said Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, who called on European countries to embrace immunisation.

Popular summer destinations such as France, Greece and Italy have recorded more than 1,000 measles cases each, including fatalities. Georgia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine have also witnessed more than 1,000 infections in 2018. Ukraine has been worst hit, with more than 23,000 measles victims. Serbia has reported 14 measles-related deaths, the highest number in the 53-state European region of the WHO.

Public Health England (PHE) said people should ensure they are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination before travelling to countries with outbreaks. The WHO said that at least 95 per cent immunisation coverage with two measles vaccinations a year was needed to stop the spread of measles.

In 2016 the Vaccine Confidence Project found that the European region was the most sceptical in the world on vaccine safety. Dr Jakab said: “We can stop this deadly disease. But we will not succeed unless everyone plays their part: to immunise their children, themselves, their patients, their populations – and also to remind others that vaccination saves lives”.

Figures from PHE show that from Jan 1 to Aug 6 there were 807 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England.