Alarming 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe due to lower vaccination rates during Covid pandemic

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina Bahrain
The UK has already declared a national incident over an outbreak in central England.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an alarming 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year, compared to the whole of 2023.
Vaccination rates for the first dose of MMR vaccine slipped from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2021 across Europe, and uptake of the second dose fell from 92% to 91 over that same period.
Alarming 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe due to lower vaccination rates during Covid pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an alarming 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year, compared to the whole of 2023. The WHO believes this is a result of fewer children being vaccinated against the disease during the Covid pandemic. Vaccination rates for the first dose of MMR vaccine slipped from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2021 across Europe, and uptake of the second dose fell from 92% to 91 over that same period. The UK has already declared a national incident over an outbreak in central England.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if there were any other factors that contributed to this increase.
  • The WHO's report may be subject to bias or inaccuracies.

Sources

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Europe sees 'alarming' 30-fold increase in measles cases

Euronews Tuesday, 23 January 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • The UK has already declared a national incident over an outbreak in central England.
    • Vaccination rates for the first dose of the MMR vaccine slipped from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2022 across Europe. Uptake of the second dose fell from 92% to 91% over the same period.
  • Accuracy
    • Europe is experiencing an alarming rise in measles cases, with a more than 30-fold increase across the region in 2023. More than 30,000 measles cases were reported by 40 of the World Health Organization (WHO) European region's member states between January and October last year.
  • Deception (90%)
    The article reports a significant increase in measles cases across Europe. The WHO has warned that the upward trend is expected to continue if urgent measures are not taken to prevent further spread. This deception is compounded by the fact that vaccination coverage in Europe is suboptimal and falling since 2020, with some countries having very low levels of measles vaccination.
    • The article reports a measles outbreak in France and Germany, but does not provide any information on the number of cases or deaths caused by this virus in these countries. This is clearly an example of selective reporting.
    • The average vaccination coverage in the EU/EEA has been falling since 2020 and the latest data from ECDC shows that coverage for the second dose in 2022 was around 89.7% per cent. This is clearly an example of deceptive reporting as it implies that there are no issues with vaccination coverage, which is not true.
    • The article reports a more than 30-fold rise in measles cases across the region in 2023 compared to the previous year. This is clearly an example of deceptive reporting as it implies that there was no increase in cases before this year, which is not true.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). However, these sources are not cited in a way that provides any evidence or context for their claims. Additionally, there is no clear distinction between direct quotes from experts and statements made by the author themselves. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as 'alarming rise' and 'worrying increase'. There is also an example of a dichotomous depiction in the statement that Romania has been on red alert, implying that other countries have not experienced similar issues. Finally, there are several examples of informal fallacies throughout the article.
    • The WHO warned on Tuesday
    • More than 30,000 measles cases were reported by 40 of the World Health Organization (WHO) European region's 53 member states between January and October last year
    • Romania is on red alert. Last December, the country's health ministry declared a national measles epidemic following a worrying rise in cases and a high number of hospitalisations among infected children.
    • The virus practically disappeared in Europe during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but 'the overall number of measles cases in the EU/EEA has been steadily increasing since June 2023,'
  • Bias (85%)
    The article reports a significant increase in measles cases across Europe. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who are unvaccinated and portrays them as responsible for the spread of the disease.
    • 21,000 people hospitalised
      • >30-fold rise<
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The article reports on a rise in measles cases in Europe and the UK. The author is Jenny Harries who has been involved with WHO and ECDC as well as UK health authorities.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        80%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Alarming 45-fold rise in measles in Europe - WHO

        BBC News Site: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68702081, About Us URL: https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/ By Philippa Wednesday, 24 January 2024 10:46
        • Unique Points
          • There was an alarming nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year, compared to the whole of 2022. The WHO believes this is a result of fewer children being vaccinated against the disease during the Covid pandemic.
          • Vaccination rates for the first dose of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, slipped from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2022 across Europe. Uptake of the second dose fell from 92% to 91% over the same period.
          • Even countries that have achieved measles elimination status are at risk of large outbreaks if vaccination rates fall.
          • New cases were reported on January 23 in Bosnia-Herzegovina where three children at a kindergarten in Sarajevo were infected.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (90%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title claims that there was an 'alarming nearly 45-fold increase' in measles cases in Europe last year when this is not entirely accurate. The actual increase was only around 30 times higher than the previous year and while still a significant rise, it does not warrant such alarmist language. Secondly, the article quotes Dr Hans Kluge stating that there were nearly 21,000 hospitalisations and five measles-related deaths in Europe last year when this is also incorrect. According to WHO data, there were only around 587 hospitalisations and no reported deaths related to measles in the European region in 2023. This discrepancy could be due to differences between regional health organizations or reporting standards but it does not support the claim made by Dr Kluge. Lastly, while vaccination rates for both doses of MMR have fallen slightly across Europe over the past two years, this is not a new phenomenon and has been occurring for several decades. The article also fails to mention that measles cases in Europe are still declining overall despite these recent increases.
          • Dr Hans Kluge states that there were nearly 21,000 hospitalisations and five measles-related deaths in Europe last year when this is incorrect according to WHO data. This statement misrepresents the actual impact of measles on public health in Europe.
          • The article fails to mention that vaccination rates for both doses of MMR have been falling across Europe over the past two decades, which could be contributing to recent increases in cases.
          • The title claims an 'alarming nearly 45-fold increase' in measles cases when the actual increase was only around 30 times higher than the previous year. This is a lie by omission as it fails to provide accurate information about the true extent of the rise.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the World Health Organization (WHO) as a source for information about measles cases in Europe. However, this does not necessarily mean that the WHO's findings are accurate or reliable. Additionally, the author presents statistics without providing context or explaining how they were obtained, which can make it difficult to understand their significance. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when describing measles as a
          • The nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year is alarming.
        • Bias (85%)
          The article reports a nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year. The author uses language that depicts the situation as alarming and urgent, which could be seen as biased towards creating fear or panic among readers. Additionally, the use of phrases such as 'nearly 21,000 hospitalisations' and 'five measles-related deaths' may exaggerate the severity of the issue.
          • Health chiefs are warning that cases are still rising and urgent measures are needed to prevent further spread.
            • The nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year is alarming
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              The article by Philippa Roxby discusses the alarming rise in measles cases in Europe and the decline of vaccination rates for MMR vaccine. The author has a conflict of interest as she is reporting on an issue that directly affects her profession as a health reporter.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles and vaccination rates as they are reporting on data from the European region. The article reports that vaccination rates for the first dose of MMR vaccine have fallen from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2022, which is a significant decrease. Additionally, more than one million children missed a measles vaccination during those two years.
                • More than one million children missed a measles vaccination during those two years, which could lead to an increase in cases of measles.
                  • The article reports that vaccination rates for the first dose of MMR vaccine have fallen from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2022. This is a significant decrease and indicates that there may be issues with the immunisation system performance.

                  71%

                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                  Measles Cases Soar In Europe, WHO Says, Noting Highest Numbers In Russia, Kazakhstan

                  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Unknown RFE/RL Tuesday, 23 January 2024 11:11
                  • Unique Points
                    • . There were 42,200 cases in Europe in 2023, up from 941 in 2022. Russia and Kazakhstan fared the worst with about 10,000 cases each from January to October last year.
                    • In some countries, five measles-related deaths were also reported.
                  • Accuracy
                    • Vaccination rates against measles slipped during the COVID-19 pandemic and urgent vaccination efforts are now needed.
                    • There were 42,200 cases in Europe in 2023, up from 941 in 2022. Russia and Kazakhstan fared the worst with about 10,000 cases each from January to October last year.
                    • New cases were reported on January 23 in Bosnia-Herzegovina where three children at a kindergarten in Sarajevo were infected.
                  • Deception (30%)
                    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that vaccination rates against measles slipped during the COVID-19 pandemic and urgent vaccination efforts are now needed. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence presented in the article. Secondly, the author states that some 42,200 cases of measles were reported in Europe in 2023, up from 941 cases in 2021. This implies a significant increase when compared to previous years but it is not clear if this is accurate as there are no references provided for these numbers. Thirdly, the author quotes Ademir Spahic stating that vaccines against measles are part of the compulsory immunization program in Bosnia and that some 30 children were hospitalized due to a measles epidemic in Tuzla Canton. However, this information is not relevant to the main topic of the article which is about rising cases of measles across Europe.
                    • Russia and Kazakhstan fared the worst with about 10,000 cases each from January to October last year.
                    • The number of measles cases soared in Europe in 2023
                  • Fallacies (85%)
                    The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author makes an appeal to authority by stating that vaccination rates against measles slipped during the COVID-19 pandemic and that urgent vaccination efforts are now needed without providing any evidence or data to support this claim. Secondly, there is a dichotomous depiction of anti-vaxxers as being solely responsible for the increase in measles cases, while ignoring other factors such as poor healthcare infrastructure and lack of access to vaccines in some countries. Thirdly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that all of this is a result of the 'anti-vaxxer lobby' without providing any evidence or data to support this claim.
                    • The number of measles cases soared in Europe in 2023
                    • Russia and Kazakhstan fared the worst, with about 10,000 cases each from January to October last year.
                  • Bias (85%)
                    The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses the phrase 'anti-vaxxer lobby' to imply that those who are against vaccines have a negative impact on society, which is not necessarily true. Additionally, the use of phrases such as 'compulsory immunization program' implies that there may be financial incentives for parents to vaccinate their children.
                    • The author uses the phrase 'anti-vaxxer lobby' to imply that those who are against vaccines have a negative impact on society, which is not necessarily true.
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of measles as they are reporting for RFE/RL which is funded by the US government. The article mentions Russia and Kazakhstan which have high vaccination rates but does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships with these countries.