Measles Cases Surge Globally Amid Falling Vaccination Rates

WHO calls for urgent vaccination efforts as measles cases rise 45-fold in Europe, while the UK and US also report significant increases.

Measles cases in Europe surged to 42,200 in 2023, a nearly 45-fold increase from the previous year, with Russia and Kazakhstan having the most cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent vaccination efforts to halt the spread of the disease, as vaccination rates slipped during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the UK, there has been a significant rise in measles cases, with the West Midlands reporting the highest increase.
In the US, declining vaccination rates are jeopardizing herd immunity and increasing the risk of measles outbreaks.
In London, the boroughs of Hackney, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster have the lowest rates of MMR vaccination.