WHO's Measles in Europe and Central Asia doubled last year...Aftermath of slowing vaccinations during COVID-19 pandemic
Mar 14, 2025
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According to the WHO, the number of measles cases from 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia is the highest in 25 years, with Romania (36,92) having the highest number of cases among 53 countries, followed by Kazakhstan (28,147).
Analysts say that the spread of measles is largely related to the slowdown in child vaccination rates. In fact, 40% of the cases in Europe and Central Asia last year were children under the age of five.
WHO says 2023 measles vaccination rates in children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Romania were less than 80%"It is significantly below the 95% inoculation rate for the prevention of outbreaks " he explained. "The number of measles cases is soaring in 2023 and 2024 as measles immunization rates decrease due to slowing vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic."
The number of measles cases in the United States has also increased in recent months, WHO said. "The number of measles cases in the United States, where dozens of outbreaks have been reported in Texas and New Mexico, has reached 256 this year."
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However, since 2019, the measles vaccination rate in the United States has decreased, and some view this as the cause of the recent measles epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one to three out of every 1,000 people who contract measles in the United States lose their lives, and if they are not vaccinated, 400,000 people can be hospitalized and 18 million can die every year.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is transmitted into the air through coughing or sneezing. It is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, systemic rash, and lesions in the oral cavity. It is also known to cause blindness, hearing impairment, and intellectual disability.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
