Austria records 16-fold increase in measles cases

After the United Kingdom warned of a spreading measles outbreak, more European nations could soon follow suit. 

Austria, for instance, has recorded a 16-fold increase in cases. While in 2022 only 12 measles infections were recorded, 192 infections were recorded from January 2023 to January 2024, the Krone newspaper reports, citing the country's epidemic detection system. 

At Vienna's only vaccination center ten people a day currently come to get their anti-measles shot. Far too few, according to the head of the city's epidemic prevention department Julia Pogracz. "Measles is a serious disease. If you're not vaccinated, get vaccinated as soon as possible," she urges.

The measles virus spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes and can cause severe disease and even death. It is most common among children and vaccination is the only way to protect them.

However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), across the WHO's 'European Region' (which includes parts of Asia) more than 1.8 million infants missed their measles vaccination during the COVID years 2020 to 2022. This lack of immunisation combined with increased international travel has led to a 30-fold increase in cases last year - and 21,000 hospitalisations.

"This increase has been expected because of the COVID 19 pandemic," Pongracz told CGTN. 

"Nevertheless the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention still says that the probability of transmission of measles within the European Union is low. We have to focus on increasing the vaccination coverage to reach the goal of 95 percent. That is defined as the goal to eliminate measles," she adds.

The measles vaccine has been in use since the 1960s and is - according to the WHO - safe, effective and inexpensive. Austria offers the measles shot for free.

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