FT reported measles outbreak in Europe due to low vaccination rate

There has been a sharp increase in measles cases in Europe due to insufficient vaccination coverage. This was reported on July 15 by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper, citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"According to WHO, the number of measles cases in Europe and Central Asia has reached its highest level in the last quarter of a century, more than doubling between 2023 and 2024 as vaccination rates failed to recover to pre—pandemic levels," the publication says.

It is specified that in 2024, the number of measles cases exceeded 148 thousand. It is specified that such indicators are fixed against the background of insufficient measles vaccine coverage in the countries of the region. Thus, in 2024, the proportion of children fully vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B was 91%, compared with 92% in 2019. At the same time, the formation of collective immunity to measles usually requires coverage of 95% of the population, according to WHO data.

In total, the publication says, the viral disease has spread to 53 countries and also affected the states of Central Asia.

On July 13, The Times newspaper reported that a child died as a result of measles infection amid an epidemic in the city of Liverpool in the UK due to a drop in vaccination rates. There is no information about whether the deceased baby was vaccinated.