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The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned on Friday of a “worrying” measles epidemic in Europe. The situation can become problematic, especially in areas with a low vaccination rate, it said.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Only when at least 95 percent of the population has been vaccinated against it can transmission be stopped, the ECDC says.
The ECDC detected 2,361 measles infections in Europe last year, mainly in Romania, Liechtenstein and Austria. Cases have continued to rise since the start of this year, and six people in Romania and one person in Ireland have died from the disease. Between 2020 and 2022, there were very few infections due to measures against the coronavirus.
The current epidemic is especially dangerous for infants who have not yet been vaccinated. They form the largest risk group, according to the ECDC. But unvaccinated children under the age of 5 and children and adults with an immune disorder (for example because they have cancer or HIV) are also at risk of serious illness or death.
Flemish underregistration
In Flanders, vaccination against measles is included in the basic vaccination schedule and an injection is provided at the age of 12 months and 10 years. Figures on Laatjevaccineren.be show that just under 94 percent of Flemish adolescents were vaccinated in 2020, although there is said to be “under-registration”.
European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides asks everyone to check their vaccination status and that of their children. “Vaccination protects and saves lives, and is one of our most powerful tools against measles and many other infectious diseases.”