Measles, rising cases in Italy

The latest report from the Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) indicates that 935 cases of measles have been recorded as of 31 October, with an incidence of 19 cases per million inhabitants. The highest number of cases was in October. Professor Antonio D’Avino, president of the Italian Federation of Paediatricians (FIMP), has expressed concern regarding the data reported by the ISS, noting that, on average, there are waves of measles every four to five years due to a ‘natural reservoir’ that facilitates the circulation of the virus. To prevent the disease in the youngest and the onset of complications, he advises parents to vaccinate their children, especially with booster doses. Experts stress that this is a ‘significant’ illness resulting, in rare instances, in fatality and severe complications, particularly in the younger age group (0-4 years) where vaccination is not mandatory. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that there have been more than 10 million measles cases worldwide in 2023, representing a 20% increase from the previous year. This is mainly due to insufficient global vaccination coverage, as stated by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.