Measles high in Europe, vaccine rates low

LONDON — While parts of the world have all but banished measles, Europe is still getting hit with large outbreaks where some people don’t get vaccinated.

There were more than 21,000 cases of measles and 35 deaths last year in Europe, a fourfold increase from the previous year. With more than 5,000 cases each, Romania and Italy had the biggest epidemics — and the drive to vaccinate children against measles has even become a leading issue in Italy’s general election on Sunday.

A look at some of the hurdles slowing efforts to stop the spread:

Why does measles spread so fast?

Measles is among the world’s most contagious diseases. The virus is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing. It can be prevented with a vaccine that has been in use since the 1960s. Health officials say that vaccination rates of at least 95 per cent are needed to prevent epidemics.

In some regions of Italy, the rate is about 85 per cent, one of the lowest in Europe. Epidemics have also emerged in countries including Ukraine, Greece and Romania.

Why is Europe a hotbed for measles?

Vaccine skepticism remains high in many parts of Europe after past immunization problems. In France, a national hepatitis B vaccination campaign that was suspended in 1998 amid concerns of bad side-effects led to widespread wariness of immunizations.

And during the 2009 swine-flu pandemic, numerous European critics alleged that the push for swine-flu vaccinations was the result of drugmakers’ undue influence on the World Health Organization. A 2016 global survey of vaccine confidence led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found Europe to be the region that was least confident in vaccine safety.

How effective is the vaccine?

A full dose of the MMR vaccine, a standard component of routine childhood immunization in many countries, is believed to be about 97 per cent effective at preventing measles.

Measles typically begins with a high fever and also causes a rash on the face and neck. While most people recover, it’s one of the leading causes of death among young children, says the WHO.

Serious complications, including blindness and a swelling of the brain, are more common in young children and adults over age 30.

How to increase vaccination rates

One strategy is to make immunization against certain diseases legally mandatory and not allow children to attend school unless they can show proof of vaccination.

Italy recently introduced a new law requiring parents to vaccinate their children against measles and nine other childhood diseases. Romania also passed a similar bill, including hefty fines for parents who didn’t vaccinate their children.

High rates are needed to induce “herd immunity,” to help protect vulnerable people such as infants too young to be vaccinated and people who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons, including those with weak immune systems.