WHO warns of measles that infects 34,000 people in Europe this year

LONDON – The World Health Organization said Tuesday that the World Health Organization had invited more than 34,000 people to contract measles during the first two months of 2019, calling on authorities to ensure the vaccination of vulnerable people.

The death toll of 34,300 cases reported in 42 countries in the European region of WHO reached 13, killing the virus in Ukraine – which is suffering from a measles epidemic – as well as in Romania. and in Albania. The risk is that epidemics continue to spread, warned WHO.

"If the response to an outbreak is not complete and timely, the virus will spread to more vulnerable individuals and could spread to other countries." from the region and beyond, "the statement said.

"All opportunities should be used to vaccinate children, adolescents and sensitive adults."

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can kill and cause blindness, deafness or brain damage. It can be prevented with two doses of an effective vaccine, but – partly because of pockets of unvaccinated people – it is currently spreading through outbreaks in many parts of the world, including the United States, the Philippines and in Thailand.

In Europe, the majority of measles cases recorded in 2019 occurred in Ukraine, where more than 25,000 people were infected during the first two months of the year.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles and vaccination is the only way to prevent it, said the WHO. Most cases involve unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals.

He added that even though measles vaccination coverage was the highest ever estimated for the second dose in 2017 (around 90%), some countries had problems, including declining or stagnant vaccination coverage, low coverage for certain marginalized groups. and immune deficiency in older populations.

WHO has called on the national health authorities in the region to focus their efforts on the access of all population groups to vaccines.

"The impact on public health will persist until current outbreaks are under control," he added, adding that health authorities should "identify people who have been left behind in the past." past and reach them with the vaccines they need. "

Last month, UNICEF, a report from the United Nations Children's Fund, revealed that more than 20 million children had not been vaccinated against measles in the world over the last eight years, paving the way for serious epidemics.