World Health Organization issues fresh warning over measles

The World Health Organization has said more than 30,000 cases of measles were reported across Europe between January and October 2023. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a fresh warning over measles after a 30-fold rise in cases across Europe.

Experts from the organisation said Europe is seeing an “alarming rise” in the spread of the disease, which has “accelerated in recent months”.

More than 30,000 cases were reported by 40 of the region’s 53 member states between January and October last year, compared with 941 cases in the whole of 2022 – a more than 30-fold rise.

Two in five cases were in children aged one to four, while one in five were among people aged 20 and over.

The rising trend is expected to continue if people do not vaccinate their children against the disease, WHO said.

Measles can lead to serious complications, lifelong disability and death.

It can affect the lungs and brain and cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said: “We have seen in the region not only a 30-fold increase in measles cases, but also nearly 21,000 hospitalisations and five measles-related deaths (reported in two countries).

“Vaccination is the only way to protect children from this potentially dangerous disease.

(PA Graphics)

“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.”

WHO said that sliding vaccination rates were to blame, but more people were now travelling abroad after covid-19, increasing the risk of cross-border disease transmission and spread within communities.