Health officials across Europe are on high alert as a Measles outbreak moves across the continent, a place where the disease had almost been eliminated.  The outbreak is spreading because of pockets where the immunization rate has fallen below 95 percent.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) says France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, and Ukraine have all dropped below that threshold and have higher than normal numbers of measles patients - 474 since January in these seven countries, out of a total of 559 for Europe.  Other areas where immunization rates feel below 95 percent, like Scotland, are believed to be susceptible. 

WHO is urging national health officials to step up efforts to raise uptake rates of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in case the disease is imported.

"With steady progress towards elimination over the past two years, it is of particular concern that measles cases are climbing in Europe.  Today's travel patterns put no person or country beyond the reach of the measles virus.  Outbreaks will continue in Europe, as elsewhere, until every country reaches the level of immunization needed to fully protect their populations," said Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.  "I urge all endemic countries to take urgent measures to stop transmission of measles within their borders, and all countries that have already achieved this to keep up their guard and sustain high immunization coverage," she added.

Italy and Romania are hardest-hit.  Italy has charted 700 cases so far this year, but just 220 cases were reported for the same period last year.  Part of that country's problem is the rise of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) political party, which is lousy with anti-vaxxers.  Some M5S leaders actually have called for a ban on vaccines.

There is no credible debate on the safety of the measles vaccine.  Scientific evidence has repeatedly shown that while there are risks of a severe reaction in a very small number of cases, the measles vaccine is safe for the vast majority of people.  And at worst, its side effects are usually only mild.  Furthermore, there is no link between MMR, the combined vaccine and autism.

International standards recommend that the MMR vaccine be given in two doses, starting at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.