WHO reveals staggering 400% increase in measles cases reported in 2017

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released figures highlighting a startling 400% increase in cases of measles reported in 2017 compared with the previous year’s figures.

Last year (2017) there were 21,315 cases of measles reported and out of these 35 people died due to the disease. These figures follow a record low of 5,273 cases in 2016.

“Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated. Over 20,000 cases of measles, and 35 lives lost in 2017 alone, are a tragedy we simply cannot accept,” explained Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe.

Large outbreaks of measles were reported in 15 countries housed within the WHO European Region (which includes 53 countries), with the highest number of cases in Romania (5562), Italy (5006) and Ukraine (4767).

These countries have witnessed declines in overall immunisation coverage — for some marginalised groups this coverage has been consistently low — interruptions in the supply of vaccines or underperforming disease surveillance systems.

Other countries that experienced large outbreaks included Greece (967), Germany (927), Serbia (702), Tajikistan (649), France (520), the Russian Federation (408), Belgium (369), the United Kingdom (282), Bulgaria (167), Spain (152), Czechia (146) and Switzerland (105).

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and brain encephalitis. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is effective in the prevention of the disease and is administered during childhood, however, the vaccine has also encountered negative publicity as a result of, now discredited, research claiming a link between the vaccine and autism, leading to a number of people in the US and Europe refusing to be vaccinated.

Despite this, the WHO reports that multiple actions are being taken across Europe to stop the current outbreaks and prevent future ones, including public awareness campaigns, immunising healthcare professionals and other adults at particular risk, addressing challenges in access, and improving supply planning and logistics.

“Elimination of both measles and rubella is a priority goal that all European countries have firmly committed to, and a cornerstone for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals,” Jakab continued. “This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all.”

Since the introduction of a process to verify the elimination of measles and rubella in 2012, the WHO European Region has witnessed progression in achieving the ultimate goal. Country data and immunisation activities are reviewed every year by an independent Regional Verification Commission (RVC), which then provides its recommendations on how to resolve specific challenges faced by individual countries. By the end of 2016, it was reported that 42 countries out of the 53 included in the region had interrupted endemic measles transmissions, however, it is recognised that outbreaks will continue until every susceptible child and adult has been protected.

Today (20 February), ministers of 11 countries will convene to discuss ways they can work together in order to achieve the goals set out in the European Vaccine Action Plan (EVAP) by 2020, including measles and rubella elimination.