Compared to 2018: measles cases have doubled in Europe

2019-08-29T12:10:21.092Z

This year, there were nearly 90,000 registered measles infections in 48 European countries. In the same period last year, there were only half as many cases.

Global society

all articles

In Europe, the number of measles cases is on the increase: the World Health Organization (WHO) registered more than twice as many measles cases in 48 European countries in the first half of 2019 than in the same period of the previous year. According to figures released on Thursday, the number of measles cases rose from 44,175 to 89,994. Four European countries - Great Britain, Greece, the Czech Republic and Albania - lost their status as measles-free.

A country is considered to be free of measles if it has not been transmitted for a period of 12 months. According to statistics for 2018, Greece, the UK, the Czech Republic and Albania can no longer be considered as measles-free. In Greece, 2,193 cases were recorded, 1,466 in Albania, 953 in the UK and 217 in the Czech Republic.

37 deaths 2019

"The increasing transmission of measles is worrying," said Günter Pfaff, chair of the European Commission for the Elimination of Measles and Rubella. Failure to ensure a high immunization rate would result in "unnecessary suffering" and, in some cases, "tragic death". In Europe, a total of 74 fatal measles cases were registered in 2018, compared to 37 in the first half of 2019.

MORE ON THE SUBJECT

GermanyWhere the measles sufferers live

Measles are a viral disease that spreads faster than the flu or Ebola. If an infected person sneezes or coughs, the viruses remain active for another two hours. An infection can still take place if there is no infected person in the room. In addition, infected people can transmit measles virus as early as four days before the typical rash. The infection weakens the immune system immensely, there can be life-threatening complications such as pneumonia or meningitis, especially in anyway immune-compromised people such as infants or seniors.

As a late consequence of a measles infection, a so-called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) can develop after years, an inflammation of the nerve cells of the brain and the spinal cord. It leads to the loss of brain functions and finally death.

Measles in Germany endemic

In twelve European countries, including Germany and France, measles are endemic according to the WHO, so these countries are not free from measles. Austria and Switzerland, on the other hand, now enjoy this status on the basis of the 2018 data.

In Germany, from 1 March 2020, a mandatory vaccination for measles should apply. Immunization rates of at least 95 percent are required for a protective effect in society. According to a survey by the Barmer Krankenkasse, however, the measles quotas for measles are consistently below 90 percent. In addition, there are many young adults who are not vaccinated enough and do not know that.