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UN: measles ‘dramatic resurgence’ continues threatening Europe
29.08.2019 13:11 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Europe has failed to eliminate the measles, as the number of countries having achieved or sustained elimination of the disease has declined, UN Radio says referring to the
European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) yesterday report.
«If high immunization coverage is not achieved and sustained in every community, both children and adults will suffer unnecessarily and some will tragically die,» RVC Chair Günter Pfaff has said while commenting on the report.
As to the report, as of end 2018, 35 countries achieved or sustained measles elimination (down against 37 as of end 2017), while 12 remain endemic for measles so far.
In meanwhile, 4 countries (Albania, Czech Republic, Greece and the United Kingdom) lost their measles elimination status for the first time since the verification process began as of 2012. However, Austria and Switzerland attained elimination status for at least the past 36 months.
It is to be admitted, the World Health Organization (WHO) activated a Grade 2 emergency response to measles circulation within the Region what allows WHO to mobilize the needed human and financial resources to support the affected countries.
«Through activation of the emergency response, WHO has strengthened its focus on measles elimination and upgraded its action,» Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stressed.
It is to be admitted, RVC is an independent panel of experts established by WHO within the European Region as of 2011.
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