Measles, a disease that was considered controlled by vaccination, has caused 60,000 cases in Europe this year (more than double that of 2017), and a total of 72 deaths. They are the worst data recorded in 20 years, and WHO has been warning about the seriousness of the situation for some time.
The scientific communities put the main focus on anti-vaccine movements, also responsible for the decrease in vaccination against other diseases such as influenza, triple viral (measles, rubella and mumps), or human papillomavirus.
"It is inconceivable that we have measles deaths"
During 2017, measles cases quadrupled in Europe alone and 37 deaths occurred. This year, far from improving, they encrypt them only get worse, and a few months ago the Advisory Committee for Vaccines of the AEP echoed a report from the WHO where they warned of the seriousness of the situation.
The countries with the highest incidence of registered cases are: Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Italy and France. Although cases also increased in Slovakia, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Russia.
In Babies and more What you should know about vaccination if you travel with your baby to European countries affected by the measles outbreak In Italy, we recently knew the case of an unvaccinated 10-year-old girl who infected five other children, or the well-known case in France of the Marine Eraville athlete who died after the disease was spread when she was unable to receive the vaccine due to a heart transplant.
Health experts warn that the anti-vaccine movement is primarily responsible for this situation, by spreading false news through social networks and eventually creating a climate of skepticism."The entire scientific community we are very concerned with the situation: epidemiologists, pediatricians, infectious disease experts and many health ministers. It is inconceivable that we have measles deaths, children dying of measles "- says Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Union health commissioner and former cardiac surgeon.
In Babies and more WHO warns of the increase in measles cases worldwide due to a drop in vaccinationSome political movements are also joining the anti-vaccines
But in addition to the anti-vaccine movement, the position of some political parties is also concerned - both in Europe and in the United States - that they are spreading false information about the safety of vaccines and raising doubts in some sectors of the population.
This is the case in Italy, where members of the Five Star Movement (M5S) and their allies in the government, the League, from the extreme right, said before coming to power that vaccines were not safe, and even had a minister of health that has strongly criticized mandatory vaccination in the country.
In MagnetItalia has chosen a Minister of Health for vaccines in the measles epidemicOther countries such as Romania, Poland, United States or France also have politicians who at some point have expressed their opposition to vaccines.
But there are also countries especially sensitized with this serious health problem, and that they have decided to take measures to raise the vaccination rate among the child population. It is the case of Australia, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and even France, among others.
In any case, although anti-vaccine movements are one of the main causes behind the decline in vaccine coverage in general, and the European measles outbreak in particular is not the only reason, and in some countries there are also other Causes such as:
- Weakened public health systems,
- Important cuts in vaccination campaigns of recent years,
- Problems social exclusion of a part of the population, as well as logistical problems,
- Lack of information or commitment from parents to Complete vaccination of your children.
As far as our country is concerned, luckily, and according to data from the AEP Vaccine Advisory Committee, vaccine coverage is excellent, especially in primary vaccination, standing above 97 percent. Therefore, experts do not believe it is necessary to impose mandatory, and they are committed to keeping families aware of the benefits of vaccines, and the importance of vaccinating our children.
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