India, March 14 -- The World Health Organization has warned about an alarming surge in measles cases in Europe.
Measles cases in Europe have doubled in just a year, with the highest number reported since 1997, UN agencies announced on Thursday.
"Measles is back, and it's a wake-up call," warned Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for the European region.
A total of 127,350 cases were reported in the region in 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997, according to analysis by WHO and the UN Children's Fund.
Among the most contagious viruses affecting people, measles can damage the immune system by erasing its memory of how to fight infections, leaving survivors vulnerable to other diseases.
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