2024-08-07 19:02:35
(ANSA) – ROME, 07 AUG – Measles continues to circulate in Europe. According to the latest update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in June there were 1,891 cases, a significant drop compared to the previous month, when there were 2,387. The vast majority of infections (1,282) were recorded in Romania. Belgium (201) and Italy (150) follow.
Since July 2023, 17,273 cases of measles and 13 deaths due to infection have been reported in the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area: 12 in Romania and 1 in Ireland.
Nearly half of the cases (45%) occurred in children under 5 years of age; in particular, children under one year of age are those with the highest incidence (559.3 cases per million). This last figure worries experts: “Children under one year of age are particularly vulnerable to measles and its complications. They are better protected by a high level of herd immunity since the first dose of the measles vaccine is administered after 12 months of age”, the report states.
In June, 19 cases of rubella were also reported: 18 in Poland and 1 in Lithuania. In the last year, there have been 309 cases of rubella in Europe: 272 in Poland, 28 in Germany, 2 each in Italy, Latvia and Lithuania. (ANSA).
2024-08-07 19:02:35