Europe sees huge surge in measles
MEASLES cases across Europe hit a ten-year high last year.
The World Health Organisation said 82,596 contracted the disease – three times the total for 2017 and 15 times 2016’s record low – amid low vaccination rates in some areas. Ukraine had the most cases, with a total of 72 dying from the illness across Europe.
The most recent data for England and Wales shows 913 cases between January and October 2018. While record numbers are being vaccinated in Europe, progress in closing gaps ‘will be insufficient to stop measles circulation’, the WHO warned.