Cases of measles occur throughout Europe – one of the “most contagious” diseases in the world, experts recall – continue to increase and the 2024 numbers will soon surpass the 2023 toll. And the warning launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef in a joint analysis of the situation, which – warn the two UN agencies – puts “millions of children at risk”. According to the latest available data, during the first 3 months of 2024, 56,634 were officially reported measles cases and 4 deaths in 45 of the 53 countries of the WHO European Region. During 2023, there were slightly more infections recorded, 61,070, and 13 deaths, reported by 41 countries.
Measles – experts explain – can have a serious effect on the health of children, as the youngest are at risk of serious complications. High hospitalization rates and long-lasting weakened immune systems also make them more vulnerable to other infectious diseases. More than half of the people who contracted measles in the WHO European Region in 2023 were hospitalized, demonstrating the severe burden on patients, families and health systems.
“Even a single case of measles should constitute an urgent call to action,” warns Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe. “No one should suffer the consequences of this devastating, but easily preventable disease. I commend every country that has accelerated its efforts to interrupt transmission through catch-up vaccination. I urge all countries to act immediately, even where overall vaccination coverage is high, to vaccinate the vulnerable, fill immunity gaps and therefore prevent the virus from spreading in any community.” Nearly half of the cases reported in 2023 occurred among children under 5 years of age. Which reflects, the WHO reports, “the accumulation of children who did not receive routine vaccinations against measles and other preventable diseases during the Covid pandemic, which was followed by a slow recovery of coverage in 2021 and 2022”.
“L’increase in measles cases is a clear sign of a collapse in immunity coverage – adds Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF regional director for Europe and Central Asia – As measles cases continue to increase, we need urgent action from governments to strengthen health systems and implement relief measures. effective public health to ensure the protection of all children from this dangerous but preventable disease”. Among those under 5 who contracted measles in 2023, more than 3 quarters had not received any dose of vaccination against the disease, emerges from data released by the two UN agencies. Approximately 99% of these children had not received both 2 doses of measles vaccine.
THE infections are growing globally. In 2023, there were over 300,000 measles cases worldwide, and the number reported so far in 2024 indicates that the total for this year will equal or exceed the 2023 total globally as well. Imports of the virus between countries and continents occur regularly and outbreaks of this highly infectious disease will occur wherever the virus finds pockets of unvaccinated or poorly vaccinated people, WHO and Unicef experts warn. Countries that currently have no measles cases or outbreaks should be proactive in planning and preparing for any imports to prevent the virus from spreading within and outside the country. Countries with ongoing outbreaks must continue their efforts to vaccinate all vulnerable people, step up case finding and contact tracing, and use epidemiological data to identify any gaps in vaccination coverage, so that programs can ensure the protection of affected communities and prevent future outbreaks.
Bassetti: “Since January I have been talking about a measles alarm”
“Since January I have been talking about a measles alert: 30 thousand in 2023 at a European level and I believe that we will close 2024 well above this figure. Not talking about it hurts everyone. A resurgence of measles means an impact on the hospital system: if you have the disease as an adult, there is a 25% chance of having a hospitalization with complications. The topic of prevention must be addressed in all its complexity, from measles to whooping cough to Herpes zoster, otherwise we won’t get far. It is a topic that must return to the center of the agenda of health policy and the future of our country, but we don’t talk about it.” So to Adnkronos Salute Matteo Bassettidirector of infectious diseases at the San Martino polyclinic hospital in Genoa.
“Every time these ‘burns’ arrive that are bad for the health service, we should have a long-term idea about prevention. Measles needs a consolidated approach – urges the specialist – which does not hesitate and which reaches the 95% vaccination coverage, which has become a mirage for Italy.”
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