European region has the most measles in 25 years, which says
RootsHealth officials say the number of measles cases in the European region doubled last year to reach the highest level in 25 years.
A joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF said that children under five years of age are responsible for more than 40% of cases reported in Europe and Central Asia.
“The measles is back, and this is a wake-up call,” said Hans Henry Cluses, who is the regional director for Europe. “Without high vaccination rates, there is no health protection.”
MMR vaccine – which immunizes people against measles, kanthamala and rubella – 97% effective in fighting dangerous viruses.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that extends by cough and sneezing.
Common symptoms include:
- High fever
- Sore throat, red and water eyes
- Cough
- Sneeze
Measles virus can occur pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.
The WHO/UNICF joint analysis, which covered 53 countries, said 127,350 measles cases were reported in the European region in 2024 – most since 1997.
A total of 38 deaths occurred by 6 March 2025.
Measles cases, he said, had been decreasing since 1997, but the trends in 2018-19 reversed and there was a significant increase in cases in 2023-24 “after a backsliding in vaccination coverage during the Kovid-19 epidemic”.
He warned, “The rate of vaccination in many countries is yet to return to pre-political levels, which increases the risk of outbreak.”
The joint analysis stated that the European region calculated one third of all measles cases globally in 2024. Within that region, Romania had the highest number of cases – 30,692 – followed by Kazakhstan 28,147.
The WHO/UNICEF statement concluded that the measles remained “an important global threat” and urged governments where the cases were taking place to take quick action – and they were not ready to work where the viruses were not ready.
Has been there Two deaths in America recently As the disease – which was considered “finished” in the US in 2000 – spread there and all over Canada.
Recently, the rate of vaccination for flare has been blamed.
For example, in Europe, eight out of 10 people diagnosed with measles in the previous year were not vaccinated, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) data.
The ECDC said on Tuesday that 2023 estimates show that only four countries – Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia – met 95% of the threshold for vaccination.
Concern has also been expressed in BritainOn the spread of the disease, the vaccination rate for two doses has fallen below 90%.
Dr. Ben Kasastan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine warned people against relying on their social media.
“We have also learned from the Covid-19 vaccination program that wrong information can travel fast and affect people’s decisions. It is important to note that the information of the vaccine on social media may not be based on scientific evidence,” Dr.
