Copenhagen, Feb 20 (UNI) Measles has rebounded in the WHO European Region affecting 21,315 people and causing 35 deaths in 2017, following a record low of 5,273 cases in 2016.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe has released new data for 2017 ahead of a health ministerial meeting on immunisation in Montenegro on Tuesday.
“Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated. Over 20,000 cases of measles, and 35 lives lost in 2017 alone, are a tragedy we simply cannot accept,” says Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.