Copenhagen, Mar. 13, (dpa/GNA) – The number of measles cases reported in Europe and Central Asia in 2024 was the highest in 27 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday.
More than 127,000 measles cases were reported for the last year in the WHO European region, which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. This was twice as many cases as in 2023 and the highest number in the region since 1997.
Over half of those affected had to be treated in hospital and 38 deaths have been reported for 2024 as a result of the disease.
“Measles are back and this is a wake-up call,” said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, pointing out that there can be no health security without high vaccination coverage.
More than 40% of all registered infections in the region were identified in children under 5 years old.
Measles is one of the most contagious human diseases, causing symptoms like a fever, cough and rash that spreads over the whole body.
Romania had the highest number of measles infections in the region, with 30,692 reported cases, followed by Kazakhstan with just over 28,000 cases.
In Germany, 553 cases were reported for 2024 by September 25, according to Germany’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
The number of registered cases varied considerably: From 2020 to 2023, the number of measles cases was in the single and double digits, according to the RKI. Before the pandemic, from 2012 to 2019, between 165 and 2,500 cases were registered each year.
According to the WHO, overall vaccination rates have declined in recent years as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In many countries, they have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
The measles virus causes symptoms in almost all unprotected individuals. Most cases resolve without lasting effects but there is a risk of complications such as brain, lung and middle ear infections, which can cause permanent damage and even death.
GNA