Measles cases hit record in Europe

Cases of measles in Europe have hit a record high, according to the World Health Organization. More than 41,000 people have been infected in the first six months of 2018, leading to 37 deaths.

Last year there were 23,927 cases and the year before 5,273. Experts blame this surge in infections on a drop in the number of people being vaccinated.

The MMR vaccine can prevent infection, but discredited research 20 years ago that incorrectly linked MMR to autism has stopped some people from trusting the vaccine.

Seven countries in the region have seen more than 1000 infections in children and adults this year including France, Georgia, Greece, Italy and the Russian Federation.

Ukraine had the largest number of cases with more than 23,000 children and adults infected, although Serbia has seen 14 measles-related deaths, the highest in Europe.

Ninety percent of eligible children in Europe received two doses of measles vaccinations last year but the WHO said that coverage varied within communities, with some having an uptake of lower than 70 percent.

"Following the decade's lowest number of cases, in 2016, we are seeing a dramatic increase in infections and extended outbreaks," says Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe.

Jakab said all countries should immediately launch efforts to detect and quarantine infections, adding that: "Good health for all starts with immunisation, and as long as this disease is not eliminated we are failing to live up to our Sustainable Development Goal commitments."

It is believed that renewed opposition to the vaccination has enabled the disease to make a comeback. At the turn of the millennium anti-vaccination fears exploded into the mainstream after the discredited former British doctor Andrew Wakefield falsely claimed the measles vaccine causes autism.

Experts attribute the increase in cases to a revival of anti-vaccine sentiment. Research has found Europe to be the most sceptical continent in the world on vaccine safety.

Populist parties in countries including France and Italy have been blamed for encouraging mistrust of vaccinations, promoting the idea that it constitutes interference by the state into family affairs.

"This partial setback demonstrates that every person who is not immune remains vulnerable no matter where they live, and every country must keep pushing to increase coverage and close immunity gaps, even after achieving interrupted or eliminated status," said Nedret Emiroglu, director of the WHO's European Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases.