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The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday against a significant increase in the number of measles infections worldwide, which would have increased by nearly 50% last year by compared to 2017.
"When we see a 50% increase in the number of reported cases, we realize we are going in the wrong direction," said Catherine O. Brien, director of the department's immunization and biologics department. WHO, at a press conference. "Our data show a significant increase in measles cases.
"These WHO figures are provisional because countries have until April to report cases recorded in 2018.
According to data received by the organization until mid-January, about 229,000 cases of measles worldwide in 2018, up from 170,000 in 2017.
"All regions have seen an increase in the number of cases last year," said Katrina Kreitsinger, a doctor in the World Health Organization's Expanded Program on Immunization, referring to epidemics in Ukraine and Madagascar. , Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Sierra Leone.
"The European region has recorded about 83,000 cases in 2018 and today, including 53,000 in Ukraine".
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles is a serious and highly contagious disease that can be prevented by two doses of "safe and effective" vaccine critiquing the spread of misinformation about the vaccine , especially in rich countries.
Measles can lead to serious or life-threatening complications, such as encephalitis, pneumonia and permanent vision loss.
The risk of death and complications is particularly high in infants and those suffering from malnutrition or weakened immune systems. Measles killed some 136,000 people worldwide last year, according to the World Health Organization.
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