Record high number of measles across Europe leads to calls for immediate action by WHO

A record high in the number of cases of measles in the European Region has been revealed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), leading to calls for immediate action to stop the further spread of the disease.

During the first six months of the year (2018) there have been a reported 41,000 cases of measles in adults and children within the WHO European Region. This number exceeds the 12-month totals reported for every other year this decade — the highest annual total for measles cases between 2010 and 2017 was 23,927 with the lowest being 5,273 reported in 2016. Looking at the monthly country figures it was found that at least 37 people have died due to measles this year.

“Following the decade’s lowest number of cases in 2016, we are seeing a dramatic increase in infections and extended outbreaks,” explained Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe. “We call on all countries to immediately implement broad, context-appropriate measures to stop further spread of this disease. Good health for all starts with immunisation, and as long as this disease is not eliminated we are failing to live up to our Sustainable Development Goal commitments.”

As reported on the WHO’s website, the latest assessment by the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) has shown that in 43 of the 53 European Member States have interrupted the endemic spread of measles and 42 have interrupted rubella.

However, the RVC has also expressed concerns about inadequate disease surveillance and low immunisation coverage in some countries. It also concluded that chains of measles transmission continued for more than 12 months in some countries that had interrupted the endemic spread of the disease, reverting their status back to endemic.

“This partial setback demonstrates that every person who is not immune remains vulnerable no matter where they live, and every country must keep pushing to increase coverage and close immunity gaps, even after achieving interrupted or eliminated status,” commented Dr Nedret Emiroglu, director of the Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Measles is an extremely contagious infection that can cause serious consequences and death in some circumstances. Immunisation with two doses of vaccine is recommended, however, as a result of research 20 years ago, which has been discredited, linking the vaccine to autism, many countries have seen an unwillingness of parents to immunise their children as per the recommendations.

Although, there has been an increase in the overall proportion of children being immunised in the European region there are huge disparities when the figures are assessed at the local level.

Who has stated that it is working closely with member states facing outbreaks to implement the best response measures and is working with other countries to attain the 95% threshold.

“At this midterm juncture for the European Vaccine Action Plan, we must celebrate our achievements while not losing sight of those who are still vulnerable and whose protection requires our urgent and ongoing attention,” concluded Jakab. “We can stop this deadly disease. But we will not succeed unless everyone plays their part: to immunise their children, themselves, their patients, their populations — and also to remind others that vaccination saves lives.”

All 53 countries in the region will review midterm progress towards the goals of the European Vaccine Action Plan at the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, taking place in Rome, Italy, on 17–20 September 2018.