Europe saw around 90,000 cases of measles in the first half of 2019, more than in the whole of 2018 (84,462), according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The dramatic surge in measles across Europe is putting lives at risk, experts have said, as official figures showed the number of cases in the first half of 2019 outstripped that for the whole of last year.
The RVC determined that for the first time since the verification process began in the Region in 2012, 4 countries (Albania, Czechia, Greece and the United Kingdom) lost their measles elimination status.
“Re-establishment of measles transmission is concerning. If high immunization coverage is not achieved and sustained in every community, both children and adults will suffer unnecessarily and some will tragically die,” says Dr Günter Pfaff, Chair of the RVC.
The RVC was, on the other hand, pleased to conclude that Austria and Switzerland attained elimination status, having demonstrated the interruption of endemic transmission for at least 36 months.
Via The Malta Independent / Sky News / The Guardian / World Health Organisation
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