New Delhi: Measles cases across Europe have continued to surge at a rapid pace in recent weeks, authorities have warned, putting millions of children at risk.
According to the latest data, reported cases are already on track to surpass the total number of cases recorded in 2023, with more than 56,000 cases and four deaths officially reported in the first three months of 2024 alone, a UNICEF press release stated.
The surge coincides with a breakdown in immunization coverage, experts said, with more than half of the reported cases in 2023 occurring among children under five who had not received any measles vaccination doses.
“Even one case of measles should be an urgent call to action,” Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said in a statement. “No one should suffer the consequences of this devastating but easily preventable disease.” The WHO and UNICEF called on countries to step up their efforts to vaccinate all susceptible individuals, intensify case finding and contact tracing, and use epidemiological data to identify gaps in vaccination coverage.
They also urged countries that currently do not have measles cases or outbreaks to be proactive in planning and preparing for any such importation to prevent the virus from spreading.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can be fatal and health experts are concerned that the current surge could lead to a breakdown in efforts to control the disease.