Measles cases in Europe doubled in 2024 and reached a 25-year high.

This was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighting the importance of vaccination in limiting the spread of the disease.

Last year, 127,350 measles cases and 38 deaths were recorded in the WHO's European region, which numbers 53 countries and includes Central Asia.

The hardest hit countries were Romania and Kazakhstan, where 30 692 and 28 147 cases were recorded respectively, AFP reported.

Half of the cases in Europe have required hospitalization, WHO said. It noted that 40% of the cases were of children under the age of 5.

"Measles is making a comeback and this is a wake-up call. Without high vaccination rates, there is no health security," said WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge.

He urged authorities to step up immunization efforts to protect communities with under- and unvaccinated children.

In 2023, 500,000 children in the region had not received their first dose of vaccine.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread by respiratory droplets and lingers in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area.

The disease causes fever, respiratory symptoms and rash, but can also lead to severe complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.

In 2024, Europe will account for a third of measles cases worldwide.

Since 216 000 cases were recorded in 1997, the number of measles cases in Europe has declined sharply. In 2016, it reached a low of 4 440 cases.

The disease resumed in 2018 and 2019, and has risen sharply since 2023 after vaccination rates dropped during the Kovid-19 pandemic. | BGNES