Measles Cases Up By At Least 700% in Africa, 300% Globally

The United Nations has reported that the cases of measles skyrocketed hundreds of percent across the globe during the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period last year.

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The U.N. has recorded some global figures at 300%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that certain regions of the African continent specifically have experienced an increase of up to 700%.

However, WHO noted that the worldwide figure could be significantly higher since only one in 10 cases is usually reported.

So far in 2019, some 170 countries have reported 112,163 measles cases to the WHO, a stark contrast over the same period last year when 163 countries had reported 28,124 cases.

The current outbreak is the most dramatic epidemic in the history of the highly contagious disease, the U.N. has reported.

So far, Madagascar, India and Ukraine have been the most affected with tens of thousands of cases (per million people) registered.

WHO stated that almost 1,000 people have died in Madagascar - which struggles with a history of poor immunization rates - since Oct. 2018.

Measles, an airborne disease which causes fever, coughing and rashes, can be prevented through a two-dose vaccine.