Measles cases in Europe are surging at an alarming rate, with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) warning on Tuesday that 2024 is on track to surpass the already concerning numbers seen in 2023.
The first three months of 2024 alone have seen 56,634 reported cases across 45 out of 53 European countries, according to the latest data. This already surpasses the total of 61,070 cases reported throughout 2023.
“Even one case of measles should be an urgent call to action,” declared Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe.
Measles, he emphasized, is a “devastating but easily preventable disease” that can have severe consequences, especially for young children.
These consequences include high hospitalization rates and a long-lasting weakening of the immune system, making children more vulnerable to other infections.
The burden on healthcare systems is significant, with over half of measles cases in 2023 requiring hospitalization.
However, Kluge commended countries that have already begun ramping up vaccination efforts to control the outbreak.
