According to the report published last week by DSÖ, a disease that can be prevented by vaccine, in 2024, a dangerous rise trend around the world. Especially in the USA, Europe and Central Asia, cases have increased rapidly and reached the highest levels of the last twenty years. This report, prepared in cooperation with UNICEF, reveals that measles are on the agenda again as a global health threat.

According to the data contained in the report, more than 120,000 measles were documented in 2024 in 53 countries covering Europe and Central Asia. This number has doubled the previous year, while since 1997, the highest cases in the region has been recorded. The fact that children under five years of age are under the risk of serious illnesses makes their experts and health authorities even more worried.

Although measles were a very infectious viral disease, the KKK (measles, mumps and rabies) vaccine, which has been widely used since the 1970s, could be largely controlled. Successful vaccination programs in many regions such as the US and Europe have led to the almost completely eliminated measles. As a matter of fact, the US announced in 2000 that the measles officially ended the local transmission. In Europe, the number of cases fell only to 4,440 in 2016 and achieved a historical success.

However, in the regions where vaccination rates are insufficient, measles still continue to be a serious threat. In cases where the immunity of society is weakened, the disease can easily return. For example, in 2018, the United Kingdom lost this status due to uncontrolled outbreaks after two years of measles. Fortunately, as of 2021, he was able to regain his measles.

Impact on vaccination programs in the shade of pandema

Covid-19 pandemisi also made existing problems in vaccine programs more complex. Social distance and insulation measures applied in the early years of the pandema significantly reduced the number of cases of infectious diseases such as measles. However, the interruption of vaccination programs during this period led to unexpected results in the long run. With the abolition of pandema restrictions, the return of societies to social life brought about a sudden increase in diseases such as measles.

In 2023, more than 60,000 cases were seen throughout Europe, while this number doubled as of 2024 to 127,352. During this period, when at least 38 deaths linked to measles were reported, more than 40 %of patients were children under five years of age.