Measles incidence in Europe is growing rapidly - WHO 24 January 2024
Kyiv • UNN
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a rapid increase in measles cases in Europe, with more than 30,000 cases reported between January and October 2023. The WHO attributes the increase in the incidence to a decrease in vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of an alarming increase in measles cases in Europe. From January to October 2023, more than 30,000 infections were reported, which is 30 times more than in 2022. This was reported by the WHO office , UNN reports.
Details
In January-October 2023, 30 times more cases of measles were reported in the European region than in the entire year before. According to official statistics, more than 30,000 cases were reported in 40 of the 54 member states of the region. Compared to the previous period, 941 cases were detected in all of 2022.
More than 10,000 cases are reported in Kazakhstan, and the same number in Russia. In Western Europe, the United Kingdom reported 183 cases, the highest number.
According to the WHO, measles vaccination rates have fallen during the CoV pandemic. Persistent vaccination absences have left many people, including many children, vulnerable to this potentially deadly disease. In the WHO European Region alone, about 1.8 million infants were not vaccinated against measles from 2020 to 2022.
Recall
UNN reported that there is currently a real danger of a repeat of the measles epidemic in Ukraine, because according to infectious disease experts, measles is cyclical, and mass diseases usually occur every 5-6 years.