WHO calls for more efforts to fight measles

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on policy makers, health care workers and parents to immediately step up and support vaccination efforts against measles across at-risk age groups, a UN spokesman said here Wednesday.

The appeal came from WHO's Regional Office for Europe, Stephane Dujarric told reporters. "Seven countries in the region have reported more than 22,000 cases of measles in 2014 and 2015 so far. "

"WHO remains concerned that despite efforts to make safe and effective vaccines available over the last 50 years, measles continues to cost lives and money," he said.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. In 1980, before widespread vaccination, measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year. The disease remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.

Measles vaccinations must be immediately stepped up across Europe and central Asia after a series of outbreaks, WHO said.

Measles cases occur around the world. Within the last ten years, the number of measles cases reported globally has decreased significantly. However, there have been a number of large outbreaks, mostly in Africa and Europe. The Americas, including Canada, have experienced outbreaks of measles, when the virus has been imported from other regions. Endite