Europe Reports 300% Increase in Measles Cases During 2017

Over 14,000 measles cases were reported by 30 countries across the European Union (EU) during 2017. This total is more than triple 2016's measles cases.

And, under-vaccination may be the cause.

Among the EU reported measles cases, 87 percent of the people were unvaccinated at the time of infection.

According to information from the World Health Organization's (WHO's) European Region, 2017 and during early 2018 have seen 17,584 measles cases, according to the latest Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) report.

Romania has reported the most measles cases (10,623) and deaths related to measles (15) since Jan 1, 2016, according to the PAHO report.

Although measles is most often associated with childhood diseases, 45 percent of the EU cases during 2017 involved patients aged 15+.

Additionally, countries on other continents, such as China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, and Vietnam, have also reported measles outbreaks between 2016 and 2017, reported the PAHO.

Since measle cases are related to international travelers, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Level 1 Travel Alert for measles for various countries.

The CDC recommends travelers protect themselves by making sure they are vaccinated against measles with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Additionally, the CDC suggests international travelers verify their last diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and influenza vaccination.

Measles is caused by a virus that is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Symptoms of measles are rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

In the USA, two approved measles vaccines are available, MMR-II and ProQuad.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector MMR vaccine prices for general information.

Most pediatricians and pharmacies offer the MMR vaccine, and vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.