New European measles resurgence warning

The UK is one of four European countries where measles has returned following elimination, it was revealed today.

The UK sits with Albania, Greece and the Czech Republic in having failed to maintain its zero-measles status, the World Health Organisation reported.

WHO warned that years of steady progress in tackling measles had been reversed on the continent – where it regards the problem now as a grade 2 emergency.

Its experts called for renewed drives to increase vaccination rates.

12 countries continue to suffer from endemic measles, including France and Germany, WHO said. Two countries, Austria and Switzerland, have now eliminated the disease.

WHO regional director for Europe Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab said: “Great efforts to control this highly contagious disease have brought us a long way towards regional elimination. However, ongoing measles outbreaks demonstrate that more is needed.

"Through activation of the emergency response, WHO has increased its focus on measles elimination and upgraded its action."

The UK Royal College of GPs said the findings were "disheartening."

Vice-chair Professor Martin Marshall said: “While take-up of the MMR vaccination across the UK are still high, it is not high enough, and we have actually seen a small decline in recent years. It is clear that we are still suffering from entirely debunked claims around MMR that were perpetuated in the nineties – and are now resurgent on social media and other online platforms.

“Work is continuing across the NHS to ensure messages about the safety, and life-saving nature of vaccinations are heard, and it is encouraging that WHO has increased its focus on measles elimination and upgraded action to address the challenges which have allowed this deadly virus to persist in countries including the UK.

“This, alongside a commitment by our government to tackle a wave of dangerous anti-vax messages being shared online – particularly via social media – will hopefully go a long way in helping the country get back on track and regain our measles-free status."