Measles

The measles outbreak in Greece is showing no signs of slowing down, with the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (KEELPNO) saying Thursday that there have been 1,829 recorded cases since last May.

The center said the number of cases doubled in the first two months of the year, compared to 922 reported in late December.

Manuel and his wife never stop coughing but they’re happy: At least their baby doesn’t have measles anymore.

The woman, who has not been named, died two days ago.

Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar explained on Wednesday that she worked at the clinic as a member of non-medical staff.

According to unofficial information, the woman was on a long-term sick leave due to an unrelated chronic condition.

Greece's third measles-related death in under a year last week has raised concerns among health authorities that are seeking to increase vaccinations, particularly among vulnerable groups such as health workers and individuals born in or before the 1970s, who may have had the first booster but never followed up with the second.

The woman, whose initials are M.M. and who died in Belgrade's Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, is the fifth victim in Serbia, and the third in the capital.

Two patients - a 2-year-old child and a woman who had recently given birth - died in Nis, southern Serbia.

Outbreaks of measles increased 400% in Europe last year, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning the highly contagious virus has regained a foothold due to immunization decline and vaccine supply problems.

European officials said on Tuesday that the spike in the number of measles cases in Europe was due to epidemics in Romania, Italy, Germany and Greece.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, more than 14,400 cases were reported by 30 countries last year - compared with about 4,600 cases the year before.

A measles outbreak which began last May is showing no sign of abating, with Greece's union of public hospital workers (POEDIN) on Tuesday announcing three new cases, bringing the total number recorded close to 1,200.

A measles epidemic that started in May shows no sign of abating after the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (KEELPNO) reported 267 new cases from November 30 to December 21, 91 of which were recorded in the past week alone.

Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar confirmed on Wednesday that an unvaccinated man from Belgrade had died from measles, which has spread across Serbia since an outbreak was first reported in November.

"This problem can't be solved until we are all vaccinated," Loncar told the press, calling on parents to protect their children's health.