In the early '90s, the experts thought they were close to eliminating measles forever.
But now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a date for that goal farther: 2015. However, even that seems unlikely
reason? A measles outbreak that is spreading to Europe, affecting France, Belgium, Germany, Romania and now in the UK.
Other Significant outbreaks are appearing in Serbia, Spain, Macedonia and Turkey.
In recent months, the Agency for Health Protection (HPA, an acronym in English) British agency, has seen an increase in measles cases in children and young adults in England and Wales.
Its figures show that between January and April, there were 275 cases of laboratory confirmed measles. In the same period last year, there were 33 cases.
The HPA said that these cases are "is associated with recent foreign travel or small groups of children and unvaccinated young adults aged between 10 and 24 years.
highly contagious disease
causes fever, cough and reddish brown spots and skin
can be infected by breathing droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Possible complications include pneumonia, ear and eye infections and diphtheria.
Serious complications include inflammation the brain (encephalitis) which can be fatal.
Measles during pregnancy can cause loss, premature delivery or low birth weight baby.
"tip of the iceberg"
The situation in France, however, is considerably worse.
The French authorities have officially declared a measles epidemic in the country, with almost 5,000 cases reported between January and March this year. The number is almost equal to the total cases reported in France, 5090, throughout 2010.
The OMS afirma que Francia está tomando medidas inmediatas para controlar los brotes, vacunando a niños a los 9 meses de haber nacido y ofreciendo vacunas a toda la gente no inmunizada arriba de esa edad.
La doctora Rebecca Martin, quien coordina el programa de la OMS de vacunación y enfermedades prevenibles en Europa, cree que el alto número de casos en Francia se debe a un exceso de confianza.
"En Francia, ya no veían la enfermedad, así que la gente pensó que no había necesidad de inmunizar a sus niños… Su percepción del riesgo cambió".
La organización that oversees public health in France, the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (Institute for Health Monitoring, INVS are his initials) is concerned.
In a newspaper article, Françoise Weber, director of INVS, estimated that the cases and confirmed by health professionals in this country are just "the tip of the iceberg."
But measles can be eliminated from Europe, says Martin, Dr. WHO.
"In the Americas, measles was eliminated in 2002. There are cases that arise there now because everyone has been immunized, therefore, es posible lograrlo. Pero es un proceso lento y necesitamos acelerar nuestros esfuerzos"
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