Measles Outbreak Spreads Beyond California: WHO Fights for Vaccine Campaigns After Thousands Are Infected in Europe

A measles outbreak in Europe sparked a step up in vaccination campaigns throughout the region after over 22,000 people were infected by the contagious disease since 2014.

The World Health Organization in Europe called for more effective measles vaccination campaigns as the outbreak persists.

Reuters reports Zsuzsanna Jakab, the United Nations health agency's European director, said she was "taken aback" by the high case numbers, where 22,149 cases from seven different countries were recorded.

The high numbers threatened Europe's goal of eliminating measles by the end of 2015.

"We must collectively respond, without further delay, to close immunization gaps," Jakab said in a statement. "It is unacceptable that, after the last 50 years' efforts to make safe and effective vaccines available, measles continues to cost lives, money and time."

Italy has seen 1,674 measles cases since the beginning of last year, while Germany has had 583, Kyrgyzstan 7,477 and Russia more than 3,240.

WHO said large outbreaks continue to spread throughout Europe despite the drop of measles cases from 2013 to 2014 by 50 percent.

The United States has experienced a measles outbreak as well after an infected person from a different country visited Disneyland in December. About 150 cases have been recorded since.

Back in 2000, measles was declared eliminated in America after decades of childhood vaccine efforts. Yet, fewer children were being vaccinated in the past decade after a study linked vaccines with autism sparking an anti-vaccination movement. The study was later proven wrong.

"All countries, with no exception, need to keep a very high coverage of regular measles vaccination so that similar outbreaks won't happen again ... and measles can be eliminated once and for all," said Nedret Emiroglu, a WHO Europe's infectious diseases expert.

An 18-month old boy in Germany has died of measles furthering the debate on vaccinations, BBC reports.

Berlin registered more than 500 cases since October, the worst outbreak in more than 10 years.