In Europe, the number of measles cases is growing: The world health organization (WHO) registered in the first half of the year 2019 in 48 European countries and more than twice as many measles cases as in the comparison period of the previous year. According to the on Thursday published Figures, the number of measles cases rose from 44.175 on 89.994. Four European countries – the UK, Greece, Czech Republic and Albania lost its Status as a measles-free.
As a measles free country, if over a period of twelve months, no Transmission of the disease is detected. Due to the statistics for the year 2018, Greece, great Britain, the Czech Republic and Albania, can no longer be considered measles-free. In Greece, 2193 cases have been detected in Albania in 1466, in the UK, 953, and in the Czech Republic 217.
37 deaths in 2019
“The increased Transmission of measles is troubling,” said Günter Pfaff, the Chairman of the European verification Commission for measles and rubella. If there is no high vaccination Coverage will ensure that, lead the Affected to “unnecessary suffering” and, in some cases, to the “tragic death”. In Europe, 2018, a total of 74 fatal measles cases were registered in the first half of the year 2019, there were 37.
Measles is a viral disease that is transmitted faster than the flu or Ebola. When an Infected person sneezes or coughs, the virus is still two hours. An infection can occur when there is no Infected person is left in the room. Moreover, Infected can transmit the measles virus as early as four days before the onset of the typical rash. The infection weakens the immune system immensely, it is life-threatening complications such as pneumonia or meningitis may occur, especially in already immunocompromised people such as infants or the elderly.
As a late result of measles infection is an inflammation of the nerve cells of the brain and of the spinal cord may form also after years of a so-called subacute sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE),. It leads to the failure of brain functions and finally to death.
Measles in Germany at the end of mixing
In twelve European countries, including Germany and France, are not the measles, according to WHO, endemic, these countries are measles free. Austria and Switzerland enjoy, however, on the Basis of the data of 2018 now this Status.
In Germany, from 1 to. March 2020 a mandatory vaccination for measles are valid. For a protective effect in the company of experts, according to the immunization rates of at least 95 per cent would be necessary. The vaccination rates for measles are based on a survey of Barmer health insurance, according to the however, consistently lower than 90 percent. In addition, there are many young adults who are not adequately vaccinated and not know.
In this country a marked increase in measles cases is therefore. After nearly 930 measles cases in 2017, have been reported, according to the Robert Koch Institute in the year 2018, approximately 540 cases. This year, several States have reported more measles cases than in the same period of the previous year.
Globally, there were between January and the end of July 2019, the highest number of reported measles cases since 2006 in the same period. Until the end of July have been registered in 182 countries, according to preliminary Figures, almost 365,000 measles cases, nearly three Times as many as in the same period of last year, and more than in the entire year of 2018, reported the world health organization (WHO).
In a global comparison, have been registered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and the Ukraine, most of the measles cases. WHO estimates that only about ten percent of the cases, however, in the statistics.