According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), a further rise in measles cases is expected soon, which reiterates the need for high vaccination coverage.
An additional six measles cases were recorded in Greece last month, bringing the total number of cases to 29 since the beginning of the year. These figures are reported in the latest ECDC report on communicable diseases.
According to ECDC experts, measles cases in Europe are expected to increase further in the coming months due to moderate vaccination coverage in many countries. Estimates suggest an increased possibility of exposure to the disease.
In more detail, the European Centre's report states that supplementary surveillance of epidemic information with data collection conducted between 8 and 11 July 2024 from official public sources identified 3,010 new suspected and/or confirmed measles cases, including three new deaths, that had not been previously reported since the last monthly update.
New cases were reported in 19 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries in recent months: Austria (new: 18, total: 464), Belgium (new: 177, total: 265), Bulgaria (new: 10, total: 17), Cyprus (new: 2, total: 24), Czech Republic (new: 1, total: 29), Denmark (new: 1, total: 19), France (new: 3, total: 168), Germany (new: 57, total: 390), Greece (new: 6, total: 29), Ireland (new: 17, total: 69, of which one death), Italy (new: 157, total: 556), Lithuania (new: 1, total: 26), Netherlands (new: 25, total: 105), Norway (new: 3, total: 6), Poland (new: 31, total: 222), Romania (new: 2,392 cases, three deaths, total: 17,733, including 18 deaths), Slovenia (new: 13, total: 16), Spain (new: 90, total: 161), Sweden (new: 7, total: 21).
Vaccinations
Assuming that the number of cases will increase in the near future, ECDC experts recommend that national Public Health authorities maintain vaccination coverage above 95% (second dose).
To deal with a possible increase in measles cases in Greece, the Hellenic National Public Health Organisation (EODY) and the Ministry of Health recommend that travellers, children, and adults whose destinations are countries with an outbreak of measles cases are fully vaccinated with two doses of the mixed Measles, Mumps and Rubella Virus Vaccine (MMR) before departing.
According to the National Immunisation Program, children, adolescents, and adults born after 1970 who do not have a history of the disease should be vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine.
Travellers, children, and adults abroad should check and update their basic vaccinations for all required vaccines, according to the guidelines of the National Immunisation Program.
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