“Worrying increase” in measles cases in Europe

After several years with few cases, there were more reports again in 2023, among other things due to insufficient vaccination rates. In terms of population, Romania, Liechtenstein and Austria were the worst off. There were 186 cases in this country last year, and there have already been 110 since the beginning of 2024.

• Also read: Why there are currently so many cases of measles in Austria

“Further cases are still to be expected,” emphasized the Agency for Health and Food Security (AGES) in its update on the current situation on Friday. At the end of January there was a sharp increase in reports. According to the ECDC, the trend is likely to continue not only in Austria, not only due to a lack of vaccinations but also due to a seasonal increase and the importation of cases from third countries. In January and February 2024, seven deaths caused by the measles virus have already been reported in the EU – six in Romania and one in Ireland.

Authority recommends high vaccination rates

In order to contain the spread of the virus, the health authority recommends that European countries achieve or maintain high vaccination rates and promote vaccination acceptance among the population. According to the report, those most at risk from the measles virus are young children who are too young to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated children under the age of five and people with weakened immune systems are also at increased risk of severe measles.

• Article on the topic: Doctor, will measles strengthen my child?

An increase in measles cases has been observed in the EU since 2023 – although well below the level of some previous years. France, among others, also reported outbreaks. A total of 2,361 cases were reported, 1,755 in Romania, 186 in Austria and 118 in France. However, many European countries also had no or very few, sporadic cases, the ECDC reported.

“Many safe and effective vaccines”

Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health, called the increase in measles cases “worrying” and added: “The good news is that it is a disease that can be prevented by vaccinations and that there are many safe and effective ones in the EU Vaccines are available.”

• You might also be interested in: Measles wave in Austria: Almost 60 cases have already been confirmed

In a broadcast, the Vienna Medical Association identified serious vaccination gaps that must finally be closed. “We are calling for a one-stop shop system and the widespread provision of vaccines in the ordinations,” emphasized Vice President Naghme Kamaleyan-Schmied. In order to increase awareness of vaccinations among the population, the Medical Association recommends linking it to the annual preventive examination in order to continuously check the vaccination status in accordance with the Austrian vaccination program.

Highly contagious and potentially fatal

Measles is highly contagious, unpleasant and can lead to pneumonia, meningitis and, years later, another brain disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, “all three (potentially) fatal complications,” warned Thomas Czypionka, spokesman for health at the Institute for Higher Education Studies (IHS), on Platform X. “Measles also weakens the immune system and children subsequently become ill more often.”

With measles, there is no such thing as an “infection that goes well,” emphasized molecular biologist and “Science Buster” Martin Moder on X. Measles destroys the memory cells of the immune system. The body forgets how to fight diseases against which it has already built up immune protection, the researcher explained. “The likelihood of dying from other infectious diseases remains increased for two to three years after a measles infection.”

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