Measles cases spike in Europe
In its European Vaccine Action Plan 2015-2020, the WHO establishes 6 objectives for the complete eradication of preventable diseases. One of these objectives is to interrupt the endemic transmission of measles and rubella in 2015. The WHO says the eradication of these two diseases will depend heavily on the involvement of European governments.
Measles is a serious and extremely contagious disease. But thanks to extensive vaccination, the number of cases plummeted by 98% between 1998 and 2007, according to WHO statistics. In 2012, measles started to re-establish itself in unvaccinated populations in Eastern Europe, and between early 2014 and February 2015, the WHO reported 22,149 cases.
Cases of Measles in the European region
WHO
There are several possible reasons for this upsurge, including fear surrounding the possible side effects of vaccines, and questions over their effectiveness and a lack of follow-up treatment after the initial vaccination. According to INPES, 19% of French 15-25 year-olds do not think their vaccinations are up to date.
The Luxembourg government has stated that 3,616 cases of measles were declared in the EU in 2014, over 58% of which occurred in Germany and Italy.
In Germany, where no vaccination is compulsory, an 18 month-old child died of measles in February this year. One in five cases of this disease can lead to serious complications, and the German authorities are pushing doctors to highlight the fact that side-effects from the vaccine are far rarer than complications from contracting the disease, which can include pneumonia, permanent deafness and even death.
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/who-promotes-vaccination-eradicate-measles-314049