Warning against measles infections worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday against a significant increase in the number of measles cases in the world, an increase of nearly 50% from 2017.

"When we see a 50% increase in the number of reported cases, we realize that we are going in the wrong direction," said Catherine O. Brien, director of the Division of Immunization and Biotechnology at WHO, when of a press conference.

"Our data show a significant increase in the number of measles cases, note this in all areas, we are recording the epidemics that are developing and taking a big size."

These WHO figures are provisional, as countries have until April to report cases registered in 2018. According to WHO data in mid-January, there were about 229,000 Measles case in the world in 2018, compared to 170 thousand in 2017.

"All regions experienced an increase in the number of cases last year," said Katrina Kreitsinger, a physician in the World Health Organization's Expanded Expanded Insemination Program, on pandemics. in Ukraine, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Sierra Leone.

"The region of Europe 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 who suffer from malnutrition or weakening of the immune system. Measles killed an estimated 136,000 people worldwide last year, according to the World Health Organization.