MEASLES cases have risen 3,000 per cent across Europe in the last year, the World Health Organization has warned.
More than 30,000 infections were reported between January and October 2023, up significantly from the 941 in all of 2022.
Among these were 20,918 hospitalisations and five measles-related deaths.
Two in five cases were in children aged one to four.
“This is concerning,” Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said.
Officials are now calling for “urgent” action to be taken to stop potentially killer outbreaks.
A WHO spokesperson said: “The rise in cases has accelerated in recent months, and this trend is expected to continue if urgent measures are not taken across the region to prevent further spread.”
The surge is being blamed on “backsliding” vaccination coverage in all 53 of the European member states since 2020. This includes the UK.
Post-Covid travel and “cross-border transmission” has also played a role, it is said.
There is no treatment or cure for measles, but safe and effective MMR jabs (which protect against measles, mumps and rubella) are available.
“Vaccination is the only way to protect children from this potentially dangerous disease,” Dr Kluge said.
“Urgent vaccination efforts are needed to halt transmission and prevent further spread.
“It is vital that all countries are prepared to rapidly detect and timely respond to measles outbreaks, which could endanger progress towards measles elimination.”
Experts say vaccine coverage needs to hit 95 per cent for immunity.
But reported national coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine in the region decreased from 96 per cent in 2019 to 93 per cent in 2022, while second-dose coverage fell from 92 per cent in 2019 to 91 per cent in 2022.
In all, more than 1.8million infants missed their measles vaccination between 2020 and 2022.
Worryingly, measles cases were reported in several countries where the infection had previously been declared “eliminated”.
‘HIGHLY-INFECTIOUS’
Cases in England are at a three-year high, with 149 confirmed between January and September this year, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
This is a three-fold increase from the 54 recorded in 2022.
Jack Lewis, from the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, warned the public just how dangerous the infection can be.
“Measles is more than just a rash,” he said.
“It is highly infectious and we’re seeing cases on the rise.”
The latest NHS figures also show MMR vaccine uptake is at its lowest level since 2010/2011, with only 84.5 per cent of kids having received both doses by age five.
Up to 102,000 children in England aged four and five started the school year without being jabbed, meaning they are at high risk.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious problems in some people.
It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
If one person has it, up to nine out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected, making it one of the world’s most infectious diseases.
Measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis, seizures and blindness if it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.
This is of particular concern for babies and those who are immunosuppressed.
It is also more severe in pregnancy, and increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or preterm delivery.
The most common symptoms of meningitis are:
A high temperature
A runny or blocked nose
Sneezing
A cough
Red, sore, watery eyes
Spots in the mouth
A rash
Blotchy skin
Tiredness
Fever
Aching
Generally feeling unwell
All children are offered the first dose of the MMR vaccine at age one, and then the second at age three – but people can catch up on missed jabs at any age.
If you know you or your child isn’t up to date with their jabs, call your GP for an appointment.
“It’s never too late to get vaccinated,” Prof Helen Bedford, an expert in child public health at University College London, said.
“Make sure you check your child’s red vaccination book, but if you can’t find it, or they don’t have a record, call your GP up to check.”
And if you think you or your child might have measles, ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111.
How to look after a child with measles
MEASLES usually starts to get better in about a week.
After seeing a GP, there are things you can do to help ease the symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
The NHS says it can help to:
Rest
Drink plenty of fluids
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen
Use cotton wool soaked in warm water to remove any crusts from your child’s eyes
Anyone with measles should stay home from nursery, school or work for at least four days from when the rash first appears.
All close contact with babies and anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system should also be avoided.
To help reduce the spread of measles, you should:
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water
Use tissues when you cough or sneeze
Throw used tissues in the bin
Not share cutlery, cups, towels, clothes or bedding
Source: NHS