Posted by 
Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia more than doubled in 2024, reaching their highest level in over 25 years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF warned on Thursday. The surge has been attributed to declining vaccination rates, which fell during the COVID-19 pandemic and have yet to recover.
According to the WHO, 127,350 cases were reported across its European region, which includes 53 countries. Alarmingly, children under five accounted for more than 40% of infections.
“Measles is back, and it’s a wake-up call,” said Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe.
UNICEF highlighted that while pandemic-related disruptions initially affected immunisation efforts, the spread of misinformation has further fueled vaccine hesitancy. “During the pandemic and in its aftermath, we saw a rise in misinformation, leading to increased hesitancy around vaccines,” said Fatima Cengic, UNICEF’s immunisation specialist for the region.
The WHO emphasised that a coverage rate of at least 95% is necessary to prevent outbreaks. However, in 2023, less than 80% of eligible children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania received their first measles vaccine dose. Romania reported the highest number of cases in the region last year with 30,692 infections, followed by Kazakhstan with 28,147 cases.
The measles resurgence is not confined to Europe. The United States has also seen a rise in cases, with outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico causing the first US measles deaths in a decade. The situation poses an early challenge for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic. Meanwhile, reports suggest the White House is withdrawing the nomination of vaccine critic Dave Weldon as director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in humans, causing severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and immune system damage. Health officials are urging countries to restore immunization programs to pre-pandemic levels to curb the growing threat.
Melissa Enoch
The post Measles Cases In Europe Reach 25-Year High As Vaccination Rates Decline appeared first on Arise News.
