Threat to measles elimination plans

Outbreaks of measles are putting Europe’s commitment to eliminate the disease by 2015 under threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. Levels of vaccination have been too low in some countries, particularly in rich western European nations. It says catch-up vaccination campaigns, such as the one launched in the UK, are needed across the continent Experts said it was not too late to hit the target, but “extraordinary” effort was needed. It is theoretically possible to eradicate measles from the planet in the same way smallpox was defeated in 1980. The 53 nations which form the WHO’s European region, from Portugal to Uzbekistan, have pledged to stop the disease spreading on the continent. However, there are high numbers of cases in the UK, Turkey, Ukraine and Romania. These follow outbreaks in Italy and France in previous years. Robb Butler, the technical officer for WHO Europe’s vaccination team, told the BBC: “It’s too early to say the...