More than 41,000 people have been infected with measles in Europe so far this year and 37 of them have died, according to the World Health Organization.
The total number of outbreaks during the first six months of 2018 is higher than any other full year during the previous decade. The second-highest year was 2017, during which 23,927 people had measles, and the lowest was the year before, when 5,273 people were infected.
The virus is highly contagious, spreading through the air and through infected surfaces. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, and watery eyes. After a few days, a rash develops and spreads all over the body. People who recover from measles are immune for the rest of their lives, though unlike for the flu, there is no specific antiviral treatment for the illness.
The Ukraine has been particularly hard hit this year, accounting for more than half of the total infections reported in Europe. France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Russia, and Serbia also have had 1,000 infections or more.
WHO officials said that not enough people are being vaccinated from measles. People are supposed to receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, at around age 1 and again before a child enters kindergarten. The vaccine also helps prevent against mumps and rubella.
At least 90 percent of people have to be vaccinated to avoid outbreaks. In certain communities in Europe vaccination rates are as low as 70 percent, which is contributing to the latest troubles, according to WHO.
