Doha: Measles cases in the European region which comprises 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, doubled in 2024 to a more than 25-year-high, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF said on Thursday.
According to Qatar News Agency, children under five accounted for more than 40 per cent of the 127,350 cases reported last year in the region, the WHO said in a statement. WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating, “Measles is back, and it’s a wake-up call.”
The resurgence in measles cases is attributed to a decline in immunization coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO highlighted that vaccination rates in many countries have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, leading to a significant rise in cases in 2023 and 2024.
WHO describes measles as one of the most contagious viruses for humans. Infections can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and dehydration, and can also weaken the immune system’s memory against various pathogens. UNICEF has called for urgent action to improve vaccination levels, which declined during the pandemic.