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WHO alert on the resurgence of measles in Europe, is France concerned?
Following the WHO alert concerning the increase in cases of measles in 2023, particularly in Europe, Public Health France takes stock of the circulation of the virus and recalls the importance of vaccination.
Published on January 26, 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the number of measles cases has exploded in 2023 on the European continent compared to the previous year (42,000 cases in 2023), mainly in Russia and Kazakhstan. . The ECDC for its part reports to date just over 2,000 cases in EU/EEA countries. France, which benefits from vaccination coverage among infants, close to the objective to be achieved to eliminate the disease, has just over a hundred cases in 2023 (unconsolidated data).”
Only high vaccination coverage can eliminate measles in Europe
The measles virus is among the most contagious and there is no specific treatment for the disease. Only very high and maintained vaccination coverage could allow the disease to disappear permanently. In France, vaccination against measles is compulsory for all children born from January 1, 2018. The first dose is administered at 12 months and the second between 16 and 18 months. People born since 1980 should have received a total of two doses of vaccine, regardless of their history of one of the three diseases (Measles-Mumps-Rubella).
An improvement in vaccination coverage (CV) with a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, since the establishment of compulsory vaccination, for infants has been noted and the objective of two-dose vaccination coverage of 95 % at the age of 2 years could soon be reached. Recent CV data at 24 months are 94.3% for the first dose and 91.3% for the second. However, insufficiently vaccinated populations persist, particularly among adolescents and young adults or even within specific populations far from the health system. Vaccination coverage, against the three diseases, declared by 18-35 year olds is estimated at 90.4% in mainland France with significant regional disparities (Public Health Barometer France 2021). Thus, to help interrupt the circulation of the virus and achieve the objective of eliminating measles set by the WHO, verification of measles vaccination status and updating of vaccinations remains essential in the health brackets. higher age.
Epidemiological surveillance based on reporting and mandatory declaration
Measles surveillance is based on mandatory reporting and a network of partners. It makes it possible to take measures around a case (for example post-exposure vaccination) and to provide an appropriate response from health authorities in the event of detection of clustered cases (for example catch-up vaccination of people not or incompletely vaccinated according to current national recommendations). As a reminder, any case of measles (clinical, confirmed or diagnosed in laboratories) must be reported without delay by clinicians and biologists to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) on which they depend. The National Reference Center (CNR) for measles, rubella and mumps viruses carries out genotyping of viruses and contributes to the investigation of clustered cases and chains of transmission.
A detailed epidemiological report on cases of measles occurring in France in 2023 will be published during the first quarter of 2024.
https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/...ugeole-en-europe-la-france-est-elle-concernee
WHO alert on the resurgence of measles in Europe, is France concerned?
Following the WHO alert concerning the increase in cases of measles in 2023, particularly in Europe, Public Health France takes stock of the circulation of the virus and recalls the importance of vaccination.
Published on January 26, 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the number of measles cases has exploded in 2023 on the European continent compared to the previous year (42,000 cases in 2023), mainly in Russia and Kazakhstan. . The ECDC for its part reports to date just over 2,000 cases in EU/EEA countries. France, which benefits from vaccination coverage among infants, close to the objective to be achieved to eliminate the disease, has just over a hundred cases in 2023 (unconsolidated data).”
Only high vaccination coverage can eliminate measles in Europe
The measles virus is among the most contagious and there is no specific treatment for the disease. Only very high and maintained vaccination coverage could allow the disease to disappear permanently. In France, vaccination against measles is compulsory for all children born from January 1, 2018. The first dose is administered at 12 months and the second between 16 and 18 months. People born since 1980 should have received a total of two doses of vaccine, regardless of their history of one of the three diseases (Measles-Mumps-Rubella).
An improvement in vaccination coverage (CV) with a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, since the establishment of compulsory vaccination, for infants has been noted and the objective of two-dose vaccination coverage of 95 % at the age of 2 years could soon be reached. Recent CV data at 24 months are 94.3% for the first dose and 91.3% for the second. However, insufficiently vaccinated populations persist, particularly among adolescents and young adults or even within specific populations far from the health system. Vaccination coverage, against the three diseases, declared by 18-35 year olds is estimated at 90.4% in mainland France with significant regional disparities (Public Health Barometer France 2021). Thus, to help interrupt the circulation of the virus and achieve the objective of eliminating measles set by the WHO, verification of measles vaccination status and updating of vaccinations remains essential in the health brackets. higher age.
How is the measles virus circulating in Europe currently?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of measles in France was marked by a virtual absence of viral circulation with a total of 41 cases reported between April 2020 and December 2022. In 2023, the measles virus circulated back in Europe. The ECDC report dated January 11, 2024 reported more than 2,242 cases reported by 22 countries between January and November 2023, with almost two thirds of the cases reported by Romania. Given the sub-optimal vaccination coverage for the second dose ≤95% in the majority of EU/EEA countries, more cases of measles can be expected in the coming months and in spring. The most recent data for Europe from ECDC shows a notification rate for the EU/EEA region over the last 12 months of 4.98 per million inhabitants. The rate for France is 1.64 (with 111 cases) and 5 countries have rates higher than France (Austria (19.16); Belgium (6.54); Estonia (3.00); Liechtenstein (76). .32); Romania (88.70)).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of measles in France was marked by a virtual absence of viral circulation with a total of 41 cases reported between April 2020 and December 2022. In 2023, the measles virus circulated back in Europe. The ECDC report dated January 11, 2024 reported more than 2,242 cases reported by 22 countries between January and November 2023, with almost two thirds of the cases reported by Romania. Given the sub-optimal vaccination coverage for the second dose ≤95% in the majority of EU/EEA countries, more cases of measles can be expected in the coming months and in spring. The most recent data for Europe from ECDC shows a notification rate for the EU/EEA region over the last 12 months of 4.98 per million inhabitants. The rate for France is 1.64 (with 111 cases) and 5 countries have rates higher than France (Austria (19.16); Belgium (6.54); Estonia (3.00); Liechtenstein (76). .32); Romania (88.70)).
- Learn more: The Infectious Disease Surveillance Atlas | ECDC
Epidemiological surveillance based on reporting and mandatory declaration
Measles surveillance is based on mandatory reporting and a network of partners. It makes it possible to take measures around a case (for example post-exposure vaccination) and to provide an appropriate response from health authorities in the event of detection of clustered cases (for example catch-up vaccination of people not or incompletely vaccinated according to current national recommendations). As a reminder, any case of measles (clinical, confirmed or diagnosed in laboratories) must be reported without delay by clinicians and biologists to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) on which they depend. The National Reference Center (CNR) for measles, rubella and mumps viruses carries out genotyping of viruses and contributes to the investigation of clustered cases and chains of transmission.
A detailed epidemiological report on cases of measles occurring in France in 2023 will be published during the first quarter of 2024.
https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/...ugeole-en-europe-la-france-est-elle-concernee