(Yahoo News) – Measles cases worldwide jumped more than 30 percent last year compared to 2016, with increases recorded in wealthy European countries like Germany where vaccination coverage has historically been high, the UN said Thursday. The World Health Organization said the worrying trend of resurgent measles cases was a near-global phenomenon, but the causes varied among regions. In Europe, experts

blamed the problem in part on complacency and misinformation about a vaccine proven to be both effective and safe. Martin Friede, WHO’s director of immunization, vaccines and biologicals told reporters that “supposed experts making accusations against the vaccine without any evidence” has had an impact on parents’ decisions. He specifically cited medically baseless claims linking the measles vaccine to autism, which have been spread in part on social media by members of the so-called “anti-vax” movement. READ MORE


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