Measles cases across Europe have continued to surge in 2024, with the number of cases predicted to surpass the total number of reported cases in 2023, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
According to data from UNICEF and the WHO, 56,634 measles cases and four deaths were officially reported in 45 European countries during the first three months of 2024. During 2023, 61,070 cases and 13 deaths were reported. The rise in measles cases is particularly worrying for children under five, who are most at risk of severe complications, according to UNICEF. More than half of the children who contracted measles in Europe in 2023 were hospitalized.
“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 surge in measles cases is due to a number of factors, including slow recovery in vaccination coverage due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a breakdown in immunizations due to vaccine hesitancy or misinformation. The UNICEF and WHO are calling on countries to step up their efforts to prevent further spread of the disease, including increasing vaccination coverage and implementing public health measures such as case finding and contact tracing.
They are also urging countries to improve their preparedness to respond to potential outbreaks of measles by increasing their stockpiles of the vaccine and other essential medical supplies.