Measles: Europe’s 25-yr high sparks concern over vaccination rates

Europe experienced a significant surge in measles cases in 2018, reaching the highest number recorded in 25 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

United Nation (UN) reported that there were over 127,350 reported cases in 2024, more than double the number reported in 2023.

According to WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), it is the highest number of measles cases in the region since 1997.

This increment of measles marks a threefold increase compared to 2017 and a 15-fold rise since 2016.

Countries with the highest numbers of cases included Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia, and Greece.

The majority of cases were reported in children under the age of 5, accounting for over 40% of total cases, while more than half of the reported cases required hospitalization, and 38 deaths have been reported so far.

A UN agency further noted that measles infected over 82,000 people across 47 European countries.

On its part, WHO emphasized that measles is preventable through vaccination.

It further explained that the resurgence of cases highlighted the importance of maintaining high immunization coverage.

The resurgence of measles in Europe is attributed to declining vaccination rates in some countries, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This leads to gaps in immunity and allowing the highly contagious virus to spread more easily.

WHO and UNICEF, therefore, urge governments to take immediate action to prevent further outbreaks.

The actions include intensifying vaccination efforts and strengthening disease surveillance.

Other are improving access to immunization program and addressing weaknesses in health systems.

About Measles

Measles is caused by the measles virus (MV), a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae.

The virus is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent this disease that affects the respiratory system.

Here are some key facts about measles:

Causes and Transmission

1. Measles is caused by the measles virus.
2. The virus is spread through direct contact with an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as mucus and saliva.
3. Measles is highly contagious, with an infected person able to spread the virus to up to 18 others.

Symptoms

1. Fever
2. Cough
3. Runny nose
4. Red, watery eyes
5. Rash, which typically appears 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms
6. Koplik spots, small white spots that appear inside the mouth

Complications

1. Ear infections
2. Pneumonia
3. Bronchitis
4. Laryngitis
5. Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
6. Death, especially in young children and people with weakened immune systems

Prevention and Treatment

1. Vaccination: The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles.
2. Isolation: Infected individuals should be isolated to prevent the spread of the virus.
3. Treatment: There is no specific treatment for measles, but symptoms can be managed with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications.

Epidemiology

1. Measles is a global health concern, with outbreaks occurring in many countries.
2. According to the World Health Organization, there were 242,947 reported cases of measles worldwide in 2020.
3. Measles is most common in areas with low vaccination rates and weakened health systems.

About Vaccine

A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease, including measles.

Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism.

Expert state that when introduced to the body, vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognize and fight the organism without causing the disease itself.

Types of Vaccines

1. Inactivated vaccines: Contain killed or inactivated pathogens, e.g., flu vaccine.
2. Live, attenuated vaccines: Contain weakened pathogens, e.g., MMR vaccine.
3. Conjugate vaccines: Combine weakened pathogens with carrier proteins, e.g., pneumococcal vaccine.
4. Subunit vaccines: Contain only specific components of pathogens, e.g., Hib vaccine.
5. mRNA vaccines: Use genetic material to instruct cells to produce specific proteins, e.g., COVID-19 vaccines.

How Vaccines Work

1. Introduction: Vaccines introduce antigens, such as measles virus, to the body.
2. Recognition: The immune system recognizes the antigens as foreign.
3. Activation: Immune cells, such as T-cells and B-cells, are activated.
4. Response: The immune system mounts a response, producing antibodies and immune cells.
5. Memory: The immune system retains a “memory” of the antigen, enabling rapid response upon future exposure.

Benefits of Vaccines

1. Prevention: Vaccines prevent infectious diseases.
2. Herd immunity: Vaccines protect vulnerable individuals by preventing outbreaks.
3. Reduced mortality: Vaccines reduce mortality rates from infectious diseases.
4. Economic benefits: Vaccines reduce healthcare costs and economic losses.

Common Vaccines

1. MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
2. DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
3. Polio (poliomyelitis)
4. Influenza (flu)
5. HPV (human papillomavirus)
6. Hepatitis A and B
7. Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
8. Varicella (chickenpox)

Readers, if you suspect you or someone else has measles, it is important to seek medical advice and take precautions to prevent spreading the virus to others.

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