Measles global outbreak continues to spread

April 16, 2024

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Measles outbreaks across Europe and Central Asia intensified in the first quarter of 2024, with incidence rates of up to hundreds of times higher than the United States.

One of the worst-affected areas this year has been Chicago, where 61 cases have been recorded so far, with 54 percent of these cases in those aged under four years, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Levels in Europe and Central Asia have become critical while cases in the U.S. have soared past 100, according to data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, measles cases already are nearly twice the total for all of last year.

The U.K.’s Health Security Agency declared a “national incident” in response to the rise in cases, signaling the growing public health risk.

Additionally, cases are skyrocketing across Central Asia. A massive nationwide measles outbreak has now spiked to 7,864 cases in Kyrgyzstan as of April 8, double the number reported last December.

Experts are blaming vaccination hesitancy.

Forbes writes: “According to the National Health Service England, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate in one of the hot spots for measles outbreaks, the Birmingham region, was around 83% in December 2022. It may have declined since then. To optimally protect the population, a rate of at least 95% is critical. And to illustrate the gravity of the situation, according to UKSHA, only around 50% of children have had their full MMR series in parts of East London.”