UN report worldwide measles cases quadruple in 2019

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of measles cases reported internationally in the first three months of this year had quadrupled when compared with the same time last year.

All regions of the world are reported as seeing outbreaks, although Africa has seen the most dramatic increase of 700 per cent.

The Agency added that as only one in ten cases are reported worldwide, the actual number may be far greater.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious health complications, such as infections of the brain and lungs.

The UN have said that the illness is ‘entirely preventable’ with the correct immunisations, but that worldwide coverage of the first vaccination stage has ‘stalled’ at 85 per cent, which is “still short of the 95 per cent needed to prevent outbreaks.”

Head of UNICEF Henrietta Fore and Head of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the world was “in the middle of a measles crisis” and that “the proliferation of confusing and contradictory information” about immunisations bore some of the blame.

They went on to say that it was “understandable, in such a climate, how loving parents can feel lost” but that “ultimately, there is no ‘debate’ to be had about the profound benefits of vaccines.”

“More than 20 million lives have been saved through measles vaccination since the year 2000 alone.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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